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Lol @ Garza's statline
2016 MLB thread. THE CUBS HAVE BROKEN THE CURSE! Chicago Cubs are your 2016 World Series champions
- Thread in 'Sports & Training' Thread starter Started by proshares,
- Start date
- Status
- 8,408
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- Joined
- Dec 1, 2009
Lol @ Garza's statline
Spoiler [+]
Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts relayed to right fielder Nick Markakis how he had stopped at a Baltimore-area store Monday, and how the patrons he had bumped into possessed an unusual enthusiasm. Young or old, it didn't matter. "Everybody was talking about the Orioles," Roberts told Markakis.
Getty ImagesWinning no longer seems like an independent coincidence unrelated to Showalter's presence.
The same thing continued to hover over Camden Yards before and during the Orioles' home opener Monday, the whole place filled with orange and black and hope. "It was completely different than anything I've seen before," Markakis said over the phone on Monday night. "Just the vibe at the ballpark, from the first pitch all the way to the end. It's something we haven't seen before."
Not in the ballpark, anyway. But the roots of Orioles fans have run deep and thick for years. When I interviewed for a job at the Baltimore Sun in January 1995, I was told repeatedly then that the Orioles' beat was considered to be the most important at the newspaper. "You will never hear these words: 'We don't have room for that Orioles' story,'" said Jack Gibbons, then the sports editor at the Sun.
A lot has happened since then, and over 13 consecutive losing seasons, fans frustrated by the management style of Orioles owner Peter Angelos abandoned Camden Yards, leaving seats that for years had been filled every night and every day. But the passion remained, dormant. Over the past couple of years, I've spent a lot of time in Aberdeen, S.D., which had once been a way station for every Orioles prospect from Pat Gillick to Jim Palmer, and is also the birthplace of Terry Francona -- and in the dead of winter, you will still see Orioles caps, folks waiting for a reason to believe the losing will finally stop.
That time seems to be here, now that Buck Showalter is managing, now that the Orioles have a good core of young pitching, in Brian Matusz and Zach Britton, and with a lineup deep enough to compete in the AL East. Baltimore played well in the final two months of last season, and this winter Markakis could see a change at the team's annual fanfest, in the excitement and the level of expectation. "The fans are here," Markakis said. "We've just got to give them a reason to come out. Today was an awesome day, and hopefully we can continue to do that."
[h4]Show Stopper[/h4]
If the season started Aug. 3, 2010, when Buck Showalter took over the O's.
[table][tr][th=""]Team[/th][th=""]W-L[/th][th=""]GB[/th][/tr][tr][td]1. Orioles[/td][td]38-23[/td][td]--[/td][/tr][tr][td]2. Blue Jays[/td][td]32-27[/td][td]5[/td][/tr][tr][td]3. Yankees[/td][td]32-29[/td][td]6[/td][/tr][tr][td]4. Rays[/td][td]30-30[/td][td]7 1/2[/td][/tr][tr][td]5. Red Sox[/td][td]29-30[/td][td]8[/td][/tr][/table]
Showalter is getting a lot of credit for the success, rightly, but he knows the Orioles still have work to do; the evolution must continue if Baltimore is going to contend seriously against the Yankees and Red Sox. They need more pitching, more consistency in the offense. Showalter told the players at the outset of spring training that the winter work of the front office was finished, and that the managers and the coaches can only do so much; it comes down to the players.
On Monday, the Orioles' players were good. Roberts mashed a pivotal home run, his second of the season, and yet again the pitching was good; Baltimore's ERA in the first four games is a clean 1.00, and the staff has held opponents to a .152 average.
It's a start.
[h3]Notables[/h3]
• A festive crowd embraced the Orioles during their victory Monday, as Jeff Zrebiec writes. The Orioles have been winning without much help from the middle of their order, writes Peter Schmuck. A new concessionaire is a hit with fans, writes Richard Gorelick.
Jeremy Guthrie will not make his scheduled start on Wednesday.
From Elias: The Orioles tied the major league record of four consecutive wins to start a season while allowing no more than one run in each game. The 1915 Phillies, 1991 White Sox and 2007 Mets are the only other teams to start that way.
• The timing was not good for Erik Bedard to make his 2011 debut on Monday, because he had to go toe-to-toe against baseball's version of a bulldozer -- the Texas Rangers' lineup. The Rangers created a margin for error for Derek Holland and now have 13 homers in their first four games, the second-most in history, and this is where their collective numbers stand:
OBP: .387
Slugging: .722
OPS: 1.108
Runs per game: 8.0
Three players in baseball history have hit a home run in each of the first four games of a season. Mark McGwire (199
, Willie Mays (1971) and now Nelson Cruz. McGwire finished with 70, Mays just 18. Texas players have 26 extra-base hits over their first four games. Only one team in major league history has had a higher total over a season's first four games: the Yankees had 30 extra-base hits over a similar span in 2003. The Rangers tied for second all time in most team home runs in their first four games, behind the '06 Tigers (16). The Rangers are tied at 13 with the '98 Mariners.
• That ticking sound you hear is the countdown clock until two questions are raised, inevitably, about all the home runs being hit early in the season.
First: The question of whether the baseballs have been juiced, in the aftermath of the extraordinary pitching seen in 2010.
Update: In response to my question, MLB spokesperson Pat Courtney replied: "There has been no change whatsoever on the composition of the baseball or the process in which they are made."
Second: The question of whether there are more players using performance-enhancing drugs. No major leaguer has been suspended for a PED violation at the outset of this season, a fact that really means nothing. If you are a player intent on beating the system, everybody knows you can pass through the HGH loophole without detection because there is no blood test in place. We should know from experience -- from history -- that no one should assume anything about innocence, or guilt, given the dynamics in place.
• Phil Hughes' diminished velocity is the talk of New York, but within the Yankees' organization, they are hoping that history manifests. In every year other than in 2010, Hughes has tended to build velocity during the course of the season. Last year, he started out throwing 92-93 mph, and had a strong season. The Yankees are hoping that he'll build arm strength as the season continues.
• Derek Jeter has started slowly -- he went hitless on Monday, with his average dipping to .143 -- but he did have the best swings of his season, lining out to right field and to left.
[h3]Dings and dents[/h3]
1. There is word within this notebook about how Ubaldo Jimenez is treating his cut cuticle.
2. Brandon Webb hit three hitters during a live batting practice session.
3. Andrew McCutchen is healthy enough to play.
4. Matt Holliday says he's feeling better, writes Rick Hummel.
5. Stephen Drew's condition is improving, writes Nick Piecoro.
6. Mat Latos looked good in his rehab start.
[h3]Moves, deals and decisions[/h3]
1. Frank McCourt may be nearing a settlement, and might work to make a move that could put the onus on the commissioner, writes Bill Shaikin.
2. Harmon Killebrew will throw out the first pitch at the Twins' home opener, writes Charley Walters.
3. Mike Leake might have to pitch effectively to avoid the minors, he knows. The Reds can match their 1990 start.
4. Nationals manager Jim Riggleman has a bench full of veterans, which makes for some tough choices, as Adam Kilgore writes. It's fairly apparent that the Nationals have a prickly situation with catcher Pudge Rodriguez, who is 183 hits shy of 3,000 -- at a time when the team's preference is to play their future catcher, Wilson Ramos. The best approach might be direct: Maybe the Nationals should just spell out their intentions for Rodriguez and give him a choice to embrace a role as Ramos' backup or be released. Washington owes it to itself to build for years to come, and you can't blame Rodriguez for wanting the best chance to play regularly.
5. Ben Zobrist could move into the No. 3 spot, in the absence of Evan Longoria. The news keeps getting worse for the Rays.
6. The Royals signed Jeff Suppan to a minor league deal.
7. With Brian Wilson set to come off the disabled list Wednesday, the Giants have a roster decision to make, writes Henry Schulman.
8. The Angels are losing patience with Scott Kazmir. The bottom line: There is little evidence in the way Kazmir is pitching that he is going to get better.
[h3]The Big Game[/h3]
The Red Sox got pounded in Texas, and tonight, they will look for Josh Beckett to turn them around, against the Indians. Jason Varitek will make his first start of the year, and the timing seems right, as Peter Abraham writes. Boston pitching coach Curt Young is unfazed by how the Red Sox have started. [h3]Monday's games[/h3]
1. Charlie Morton was the man for the Pirates. Some scouts mentioned to me that they think the Pirates will finish ahead of the Astros this year, a sign of progress. How Morton won, from Jacob Nitzberg of ESPN Stats & Information:
A. He stayed primarily inside to right-handers (40 of 66 pitches) and had success. Right-handers were 1-for-12 (.083) with two strikeouts on pitches inside.
B. He mixed in 39 sinkers with 44 fastballs (85.6 percent of total pitches). Morton retired six Cardinals with the sinker and nine with the fastball.
C. The Cardinals went 0-for-5 on pitches up against Morton, who allowed an opponent batting average of .302 on pitches up in 2010.
2. Ivan Nova worked his way out of trouble, as Ben Shpigel writes. Nova showed impressive composure, writes Wayne Coffey.
3. Randy Wells went into spring training on a mission to hold down his job, and he was excellent in his first outing of the year. How he won:
A. He relied on his changeup: Wells threw 26 changeups out of 99 pitches (26.3 percent), well above his 17.1 percent average in 2010. The Diamondbacks went just 1-for-7 (.143) against the pitch, missing on 41.2 percent of their swings and swinging on 11 of 20 out of the zone, resulting in three strikeouts.
B. He kept the ball down: Wells threw 67.7 percent of his pitches down in the zone, and Diamondbacks hitters went just 2-for-12 (.167), including all six of their strikeouts. Of the six strikeouts, five were on pitches out of the strike zone, all of which were swinging.
The crowd at Wrigley was the smallest in nine years.
4. The Twins keep losing to the Yankees. As Tyler Kepner writes, Minnesota is 6-31 in New York in Ron Gardenhire's time as manager. Scott Baker was kicking himself after the game for a pitch he failed to execute, as Joe Christensen writes.
From Elias: The Yanks are now 46-16 (.742) in regular-season games against the Twins since Ron Gardenhire became the Minnesota manager in 2002. It's the highest winning percentage by one major league team against another from the same league over that span. For the Twins, no other team is close. They are 34-43 against the A's, and 29-36 against the Jays.
5. The Cardinals were shut down.
6. Brandon Beachy continues to earn the respect of teammates, as David O'Brien writes.
7. Erik Bedard was back on the mound but lost, as Geoff Baker writes.
8. Rick Porcello lost, but felt his outing was OK. Miguel Cabrera played sick.
9. The Brewers are 0-4, and now their mission is simple, writes Tom Haudricourt. Michael Hunt doesn't want to think about a worst-case scenario.
[h3]The Patience Index[/h3]
[h4]Hacking With Impunity[/h4]
Yadier Molina was among the leaders in pitches seen Monday, but he wasn't watching many of them. Molina swung at 17 of the 23 pitches he saw, fouling off 12 and putting three into play. Julio Borbon had a similar night, swinging at 13 of the 18 pitches he saw, fouling off 10 and putting the other three in play. Most pitches per plate appearance (min. 3):
[table][tr][th=""]Player[/th][th=""]TP[/th][th=""]PA[/th][th=""]P/PA[/th][/tr][tr][td]Julio Borbon, TEX[/td][td]18[/td][td]3[/td][td]6.0[/td][/tr][tr][td]Carlos Gomez, MIL[/td][td]23[/td][td]4[/td][td]5.8[/td][/tr][tr][td]Yadier Molina, STL[/td][td]23[/td][td]4[/td][td]5.8[/td][/tr][tr][td]David Ross, ATL[/td][td]16[/td][td]3[/td][td]5.3[/td][/tr][tr][td]Brett Gardner, NYY[/td][td]21[/td][td]4[/td][td]5.3[/td][/tr][/table]
Rumors.
http://[h3]Setback for Webb?[/h3]
10:08AM ET
[h5]Brandon Webb | Rangers [/h5]
The Texas Rangers' master plan for 2011 calls for significant contributions from free agent signee Brandon Webb, who has pitched in all of one game since 2009 due to shoulder problems.
Webb began the season on the disabled list and a speedy return seems more unlikely after the right-hander did his best Nuke LaLoosh impersonation by plunking three hitters in a batting practice session Monday in Arizona. The good news was that Webb was able to throw 70 pitches without pain and will face hitters again Friday in Baltimore.
Once Webb returns, Alexi Ogando is likely to head back to the bullpen, unless Tommy Hunter returns from the disabled list first.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Latos sharp in simulated game[/h3]
9:53AM ET
[h5]Mat Latos | Padres [/h5]
The San Diego Padres could end up having ace right-hander Mat Latos back in the rotation sooner than later.
The Padres got more encouraging news when Latos looked sharp in a 70-pitch simulated game Monday night, reports Bill Center of the Union Tribune.
Latos is eligible to come off the disabled list Friday, but manager Bud Black has not said when a move will be made.
The Padres have two off days this week and will bring back Opening Day starter Tim Stauffer to pitch Wednesday. Should the club use a No. 5 starter before Latos returns, right-hander Samuel Deduno, who is slated to be the club's long reliever, could get the ball.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Velocity issues with Hughes?[/h3]
9:35AM ET
[h5]Phil Hughes | Yankees [/h5]
The only blemish on the New York Yankees' season is a 10-7 loss to the Detroit Tigers on Sunday in which right-hander Phil Hughes lasted just four innings and allowed a pair of homers.
Hughes benefited from the most runs of any major league starter last season, but was unable to take advantage of yet another cushion. But the concern with Hughes is not with one rocky pitching line, but with a possible loss of velocity.
Hughes was often throwing in the low 90s miles last season, but his numbers were more in 88-90 mph range in Sunday's outing. That could have more to do with the calendar than with any arm issues, writes ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney in Tuesday's blog:
- Doug Mittler
[h5]Buster Olney[/h5]
Too much emphasis on the radar gun?
Getty ImagesWinning no longer seems like an independent coincidence unrelated to Showalter's presence.
The same thing continued to hover over Camden Yards before and during the Orioles' home opener Monday, the whole place filled with orange and black and hope. "It was completely different than anything I've seen before," Markakis said over the phone on Monday night. "Just the vibe at the ballpark, from the first pitch all the way to the end. It's something we haven't seen before."
Not in the ballpark, anyway. But the roots of Orioles fans have run deep and thick for years. When I interviewed for a job at the Baltimore Sun in January 1995, I was told repeatedly then that the Orioles' beat was considered to be the most important at the newspaper. "You will never hear these words: 'We don't have room for that Orioles' story,'" said Jack Gibbons, then the sports editor at the Sun.
A lot has happened since then, and over 13 consecutive losing seasons, fans frustrated by the management style of Orioles owner Peter Angelos abandoned Camden Yards, leaving seats that for years had been filled every night and every day. But the passion remained, dormant. Over the past couple of years, I've spent a lot of time in Aberdeen, S.D., which had once been a way station for every Orioles prospect from Pat Gillick to Jim Palmer, and is also the birthplace of Terry Francona -- and in the dead of winter, you will still see Orioles caps, folks waiting for a reason to believe the losing will finally stop.
That time seems to be here, now that Buck Showalter is managing, now that the Orioles have a good core of young pitching, in Brian Matusz and Zach Britton, and with a lineup deep enough to compete in the AL East. Baltimore played well in the final two months of last season, and this winter Markakis could see a change at the team's annual fanfest, in the excitement and the level of expectation. "The fans are here," Markakis said. "We've just got to give them a reason to come out. Today was an awesome day, and hopefully we can continue to do that."
[h4]Show Stopper[/h4]
If the season started Aug. 3, 2010, when Buck Showalter took over the O's.
[table][tr][th=""]Team[/th][th=""]W-L[/th][th=""]GB[/th][/tr][tr][td]1. Orioles[/td][td]38-23[/td][td]--[/td][/tr][tr][td]2. Blue Jays[/td][td]32-27[/td][td]5[/td][/tr][tr][td]3. Yankees[/td][td]32-29[/td][td]6[/td][/tr][tr][td]4. Rays[/td][td]30-30[/td][td]7 1/2[/td][/tr][tr][td]5. Red Sox[/td][td]29-30[/td][td]8[/td][/tr][/table]
Showalter is getting a lot of credit for the success, rightly, but he knows the Orioles still have work to do; the evolution must continue if Baltimore is going to contend seriously against the Yankees and Red Sox. They need more pitching, more consistency in the offense. Showalter told the players at the outset of spring training that the winter work of the front office was finished, and that the managers and the coaches can only do so much; it comes down to the players.
On Monday, the Orioles' players were good. Roberts mashed a pivotal home run, his second of the season, and yet again the pitching was good; Baltimore's ERA in the first four games is a clean 1.00, and the staff has held opponents to a .152 average.
It's a start.
[h3]Notables[/h3]
• A festive crowd embraced the Orioles during their victory Monday, as Jeff Zrebiec writes. The Orioles have been winning without much help from the middle of their order, writes Peter Schmuck. A new concessionaire is a hit with fans, writes Richard Gorelick.
Jeremy Guthrie will not make his scheduled start on Wednesday.
From Elias: The Orioles tied the major league record of four consecutive wins to start a season while allowing no more than one run in each game. The 1915 Phillies, 1991 White Sox and 2007 Mets are the only other teams to start that way.
• The timing was not good for Erik Bedard to make his 2011 debut on Monday, because he had to go toe-to-toe against baseball's version of a bulldozer -- the Texas Rangers' lineup. The Rangers created a margin for error for Derek Holland and now have 13 homers in their first four games, the second-most in history, and this is where their collective numbers stand:
OBP: .387
Slugging: .722
OPS: 1.108
Runs per game: 8.0
Three players in baseball history have hit a home run in each of the first four games of a season. Mark McGwire (199
, Willie Mays (1971) and now Nelson Cruz. McGwire finished with 70, Mays just 18. Texas players have 26 extra-base hits over their first four games. Only one team in major league history has had a higher total over a season's first four games: the Yankees had 30 extra-base hits over a similar span in 2003. The Rangers tied for second all time in most team home runs in their first four games, behind the '06 Tigers (16). The Rangers are tied at 13 with the '98 Mariners.• That ticking sound you hear is the countdown clock until two questions are raised, inevitably, about all the home runs being hit early in the season.
First: The question of whether the baseballs have been juiced, in the aftermath of the extraordinary pitching seen in 2010.
Update: In response to my question, MLB spokesperson Pat Courtney replied: "There has been no change whatsoever on the composition of the baseball or the process in which they are made."
Second: The question of whether there are more players using performance-enhancing drugs. No major leaguer has been suspended for a PED violation at the outset of this season, a fact that really means nothing. If you are a player intent on beating the system, everybody knows you can pass through the HGH loophole without detection because there is no blood test in place. We should know from experience -- from history -- that no one should assume anything about innocence, or guilt, given the dynamics in place.
• Phil Hughes' diminished velocity is the talk of New York, but within the Yankees' organization, they are hoping that history manifests. In every year other than in 2010, Hughes has tended to build velocity during the course of the season. Last year, he started out throwing 92-93 mph, and had a strong season. The Yankees are hoping that he'll build arm strength as the season continues.
• Derek Jeter has started slowly -- he went hitless on Monday, with his average dipping to .143 -- but he did have the best swings of his season, lining out to right field and to left.
[h3]Dings and dents[/h3]
1. There is word within this notebook about how Ubaldo Jimenez is treating his cut cuticle.
2. Brandon Webb hit three hitters during a live batting practice session.
3. Andrew McCutchen is healthy enough to play.
4. Matt Holliday says he's feeling better, writes Rick Hummel.
5. Stephen Drew's condition is improving, writes Nick Piecoro.
6. Mat Latos looked good in his rehab start.
[h3]Moves, deals and decisions[/h3]
1. Frank McCourt may be nearing a settlement, and might work to make a move that could put the onus on the commissioner, writes Bill Shaikin.
2. Harmon Killebrew will throw out the first pitch at the Twins' home opener, writes Charley Walters.
3. Mike Leake might have to pitch effectively to avoid the minors, he knows. The Reds can match their 1990 start.
4. Nationals manager Jim Riggleman has a bench full of veterans, which makes for some tough choices, as Adam Kilgore writes. It's fairly apparent that the Nationals have a prickly situation with catcher Pudge Rodriguez, who is 183 hits shy of 3,000 -- at a time when the team's preference is to play their future catcher, Wilson Ramos. The best approach might be direct: Maybe the Nationals should just spell out their intentions for Rodriguez and give him a choice to embrace a role as Ramos' backup or be released. Washington owes it to itself to build for years to come, and you can't blame Rodriguez for wanting the best chance to play regularly.
5. Ben Zobrist could move into the No. 3 spot, in the absence of Evan Longoria. The news keeps getting worse for the Rays.
6. The Royals signed Jeff Suppan to a minor league deal.
7. With Brian Wilson set to come off the disabled list Wednesday, the Giants have a roster decision to make, writes Henry Schulman.
8. The Angels are losing patience with Scott Kazmir. The bottom line: There is little evidence in the way Kazmir is pitching that he is going to get better.
[h3]The Big Game[/h3]
The Red Sox got pounded in Texas, and tonight, they will look for Josh Beckett to turn them around, against the Indians. Jason Varitek will make his first start of the year, and the timing seems right, as Peter Abraham writes. Boston pitching coach Curt Young is unfazed by how the Red Sox have started. [h3]Monday's games[/h3]
1. Charlie Morton was the man for the Pirates. Some scouts mentioned to me that they think the Pirates will finish ahead of the Astros this year, a sign of progress. How Morton won, from Jacob Nitzberg of ESPN Stats & Information:
A. He stayed primarily inside to right-handers (40 of 66 pitches) and had success. Right-handers were 1-for-12 (.083) with two strikeouts on pitches inside.
B. He mixed in 39 sinkers with 44 fastballs (85.6 percent of total pitches). Morton retired six Cardinals with the sinker and nine with the fastball.
C. The Cardinals went 0-for-5 on pitches up against Morton, who allowed an opponent batting average of .302 on pitches up in 2010.
2. Ivan Nova worked his way out of trouble, as Ben Shpigel writes. Nova showed impressive composure, writes Wayne Coffey.
3. Randy Wells went into spring training on a mission to hold down his job, and he was excellent in his first outing of the year. How he won:
A. He relied on his changeup: Wells threw 26 changeups out of 99 pitches (26.3 percent), well above his 17.1 percent average in 2010. The Diamondbacks went just 1-for-7 (.143) against the pitch, missing on 41.2 percent of their swings and swinging on 11 of 20 out of the zone, resulting in three strikeouts.
B. He kept the ball down: Wells threw 67.7 percent of his pitches down in the zone, and Diamondbacks hitters went just 2-for-12 (.167), including all six of their strikeouts. Of the six strikeouts, five were on pitches out of the strike zone, all of which were swinging.
The crowd at Wrigley was the smallest in nine years.
4. The Twins keep losing to the Yankees. As Tyler Kepner writes, Minnesota is 6-31 in New York in Ron Gardenhire's time as manager. Scott Baker was kicking himself after the game for a pitch he failed to execute, as Joe Christensen writes.
From Elias: The Yanks are now 46-16 (.742) in regular-season games against the Twins since Ron Gardenhire became the Minnesota manager in 2002. It's the highest winning percentage by one major league team against another from the same league over that span. For the Twins, no other team is close. They are 34-43 against the A's, and 29-36 against the Jays.
5. The Cardinals were shut down.
6. Brandon Beachy continues to earn the respect of teammates, as David O'Brien writes.
7. Erik Bedard was back on the mound but lost, as Geoff Baker writes.
8. Rick Porcello lost, but felt his outing was OK. Miguel Cabrera played sick.
9. The Brewers are 0-4, and now their mission is simple, writes Tom Haudricourt. Michael Hunt doesn't want to think about a worst-case scenario.
[h3]The Patience Index[/h3]
[h4]Hacking With Impunity[/h4]
Yadier Molina was among the leaders in pitches seen Monday, but he wasn't watching many of them. Molina swung at 17 of the 23 pitches he saw, fouling off 12 and putting three into play. Julio Borbon had a similar night, swinging at 13 of the 18 pitches he saw, fouling off 10 and putting the other three in play. Most pitches per plate appearance (min. 3):
[table][tr][th=""]Player[/th][th=""]TP[/th][th=""]PA[/th][th=""]P/PA[/th][/tr][tr][td]Julio Borbon, TEX[/td][td]18[/td][td]3[/td][td]6.0[/td][/tr][tr][td]Carlos Gomez, MIL[/td][td]23[/td][td]4[/td][td]5.8[/td][/tr][tr][td]Yadier Molina, STL[/td][td]23[/td][td]4[/td][td]5.8[/td][/tr][tr][td]David Ross, ATL[/td][td]16[/td][td]3[/td][td]5.3[/td][/tr][tr][td]Brett Gardner, NYY[/td][td]21[/td][td]4[/td][td]5.3[/td][/tr][/table]
Rumors.
Spoiler [+]
http://[h3]Is Young being shopped?[/h3]
11:23AM ET
[h5]Michael Young | Rangers [/h5]
After shopping http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=4566Michael Young for months, the http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/tex/texas-rangersTexas Rangers found enough at-bats for the face of the franchise during the season's first week. Young, the man without a full-time position following the signing of Adrian Beltre, has started each of the first four games, either at second base or DH.
GM Jon Daniels has been trying to mend the fences with Young, but Nick Cafardo wrote in Boston Globe Rangers haven't closed the door on a trade, with the Phillies and Mets remaining possibilities as they consider second base options.
Daniels countered in a Monday interview with MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM that the Rangers have no current conversations about trading any of their players, Young included.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Guthrie may miss just one start[/h3]
11:11AM ET
[h5]Baltimore Orioles [/h5]
UPDATE: If Guthrie is not ready by Sunday, Ken Rosenthal tweets Tuesday morning that the O's options will include minor leaguers Ryan Drese, Mike Ballard and Chris Jakubauskas.
--
Buck Showalter has the Baltimore Orioles off to its first 4-0 start since 1997, even with a thinned-out starting rotation that took another hit Monday.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=5370Jeremy Guthrie was taken to the hospital Monday with flu-like symptoms and was diagnosed with a viral infection. Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com says Guthrie will be sidelined for five to seven days, including his next scheduled outing on Wednesday against Detroit.
Fifth starter Brad Bergesen, originally expected to make his first start Sunday, will move up to Wednesday. The Orioles now hope Guthrie will be back to start that contest, which is against the Rangers.
The Orioles already have starters Brian Matusz and Justin Duchscherer on the disabled list. The O's recalled top prospect Zach Britton to take Matusz's rotation spot, and Showalter said Monday he doesn't anticipate needing to make another roster move with Guthrie.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Kazmir's days numbered?[/h3]
11:03AM ET
[h5]Scott Kazmir | Angels [/h5]
Scott Kazmir entered the season with little margin for error, and the Angels left-hander may have used it up in a brutal performance Sunday against the Kansas City Royals.
Kazmir failed to make it out of the second inning, allowing five hits and five runs while hitting two batters. A scout of the AL central club told Rumor Central's Jason A. Churchill that Kazmir sat 84-86 with his fastball and couldn't find his release point.
The Angels appear to be growing short of patience with Kazmir, but Kevin Baxter of the Los Angeles Times says it's unclear whether the club is frustrated enough to eat the $14.5 million left on his contract.
At the very least, Kazmir's rotation spot is in serious jeopardy, and a decision could come when pitchers Scott Downs and Joel Pineiro come off the disabled list.
The Angels could try sending Kazmir to the bullpen, but that is not always the right place for an erratic left-hander to work out his problems. Just ask the New York Mets, who tried that with Oliver Perez before finally cutting the cord.
Kazmir is slated to hit the open market in November and what he puts forth on the mound in 2011 will greatly impact his free agent value, wrote ESPNLosAngeles.com's Mark Saxon.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Zobrist may continue to bat third[/h3]
10:36AM ET
[h5]Ben Zobrist | Rays [/h5]
With Evan Longoria sidelined for at least three weeks with an oblique injury, the Tampa Bay Rays are left with a gaping hole in the middle of the order.
Ben Zobrist was moved into Longoria's third spot in Sunday's loss to Baltimore, and manager Joe Maddon might keep him there for the near future, reports Joe Smith of the St. Petersburg Times.
Entering the season, the plan was for the switch-hitting Zobrist to hit atop the lineup against right-handed pitchers. Putting him into the third spot allows Maddon to keep Johnny Damon in the No. 2 hole with Manny Ramirez batting cleanup.
The versatile Zobrist started games in all nine slots in the order in 2010. His best average came out of the No. 3 spot, where he hit .296 in 41 games.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Catching plan in D.C.[/h3]
10:19AM ET
[h5]Washington Nationals [/h5]
Veteran Ivan Rodriguez got the nod on Opening Day, but the Washington Nationals plan on alternating starting catchers for the first 10 games or so, splitting the starts and overall playing time somewhere down the middle, tweets Bill Ladson of MLB.com. But it appears clear that Wilson Ramos is being groomed to take over the regular duties.
Once that occurs, and that likely depends upon his performance more than anything else, Rodriguez could become prime trade bait. The Nationals have Jesus Flores in the minors who could eventually come up and handle the backup job.
Rodriguez is still capable of helping clubs, so the Nationals should have no problem finding a trade match, and while they aren't likely to get a major haul in return, it should be beneficial to the club.
One team that may eventually be in the market for such help is the Texas Rangers, who are using Yorvit Torrealba and Mike Napoli at catcher now, but Napoli is considered a sub par defender and a bat manager Ron Washington would like to use at DH more than he really can.
Our Buster Olney gives his take on the catching situation in DC:
- Jason A. Churchill
[h5]Buster Olney[/h5]
What to do with Pudge?
11:23AM ET
[h5]Michael Young | Rangers [/h5]
After shopping http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=4566Michael Young for months, the http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/tex/texas-rangersTexas Rangers found enough at-bats for the face of the franchise during the season's first week. Young, the man without a full-time position following the signing of Adrian Beltre, has started each of the first four games, either at second base or DH.
GM Jon Daniels has been trying to mend the fences with Young, but Nick Cafardo wrote in Boston Globe Rangers haven't closed the door on a trade, with the Phillies and Mets remaining possibilities as they consider second base options.
Daniels countered in a Monday interview with MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM that the Rangers have no current conversations about trading any of their players, Young included.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Guthrie may miss just one start[/h3]
11:11AM ET
[h5]Baltimore Orioles [/h5]
UPDATE: If Guthrie is not ready by Sunday, Ken Rosenthal tweets Tuesday morning that the O's options will include minor leaguers Ryan Drese, Mike Ballard and Chris Jakubauskas.
--
Buck Showalter has the Baltimore Orioles off to its first 4-0 start since 1997, even with a thinned-out starting rotation that took another hit Monday.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=5370Jeremy Guthrie was taken to the hospital Monday with flu-like symptoms and was diagnosed with a viral infection. Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com says Guthrie will be sidelined for five to seven days, including his next scheduled outing on Wednesday against Detroit.
Fifth starter Brad Bergesen, originally expected to make his first start Sunday, will move up to Wednesday. The Orioles now hope Guthrie will be back to start that contest, which is against the Rangers.
The Orioles already have starters Brian Matusz and Justin Duchscherer on the disabled list. The O's recalled top prospect Zach Britton to take Matusz's rotation spot, and Showalter said Monday he doesn't anticipate needing to make another roster move with Guthrie.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Kazmir's days numbered?[/h3]
11:03AM ET
[h5]Scott Kazmir | Angels [/h5]
Scott Kazmir entered the season with little margin for error, and the Angels left-hander may have used it up in a brutal performance Sunday against the Kansas City Royals.
Kazmir failed to make it out of the second inning, allowing five hits and five runs while hitting two batters. A scout of the AL central club told Rumor Central's Jason A. Churchill that Kazmir sat 84-86 with his fastball and couldn't find his release point.
The Angels appear to be growing short of patience with Kazmir, but Kevin Baxter of the Los Angeles Times says it's unclear whether the club is frustrated enough to eat the $14.5 million left on his contract.
At the very least, Kazmir's rotation spot is in serious jeopardy, and a decision could come when pitchers Scott Downs and Joel Pineiro come off the disabled list.
The Angels could try sending Kazmir to the bullpen, but that is not always the right place for an erratic left-hander to work out his problems. Just ask the New York Mets, who tried that with Oliver Perez before finally cutting the cord.
Kazmir is slated to hit the open market in November and what he puts forth on the mound in 2011 will greatly impact his free agent value, wrote ESPNLosAngeles.com's Mark Saxon.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Zobrist may continue to bat third[/h3]
10:36AM ET
[h5]Ben Zobrist | Rays [/h5]
With Evan Longoria sidelined for at least three weeks with an oblique injury, the Tampa Bay Rays are left with a gaping hole in the middle of the order.
Ben Zobrist was moved into Longoria's third spot in Sunday's loss to Baltimore, and manager Joe Maddon might keep him there for the near future, reports Joe Smith of the St. Petersburg Times.
Entering the season, the plan was for the switch-hitting Zobrist to hit atop the lineup against right-handed pitchers. Putting him into the third spot allows Maddon to keep Johnny Damon in the No. 2 hole with Manny Ramirez batting cleanup.
The versatile Zobrist started games in all nine slots in the order in 2010. His best average came out of the No. 3 spot, where he hit .296 in 41 games.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Catching plan in D.C.[/h3]
10:19AM ET
[h5]Washington Nationals [/h5]
Veteran Ivan Rodriguez got the nod on Opening Day, but the Washington Nationals plan on alternating starting catchers for the first 10 games or so, splitting the starts and overall playing time somewhere down the middle, tweets Bill Ladson of MLB.com. But it appears clear that Wilson Ramos is being groomed to take over the regular duties.
Once that occurs, and that likely depends upon his performance more than anything else, Rodriguez could become prime trade bait. The Nationals have Jesus Flores in the minors who could eventually come up and handle the backup job.
Rodriguez is still capable of helping clubs, so the Nationals should have no problem finding a trade match, and while they aren't likely to get a major haul in return, it should be beneficial to the club.
One team that may eventually be in the market for such help is the Texas Rangers, who are using Yorvit Torrealba and Mike Napoli at catcher now, but Napoli is considered a sub par defender and a bat manager Ron Washington would like to use at DH more than he really can.
Our Buster Olney gives his take on the catching situation in DC:
- Jason A. Churchill
What to do with Pudge?
10:08AM ET
[h5]Brandon Webb | Rangers [/h5]
The Texas Rangers' master plan for 2011 calls for significant contributions from free agent signee Brandon Webb, who has pitched in all of one game since 2009 due to shoulder problems.
Webb began the season on the disabled list and a speedy return seems more unlikely after the right-hander did his best Nuke LaLoosh impersonation by plunking three hitters in a batting practice session Monday in Arizona. The good news was that Webb was able to throw 70 pitches without pain and will face hitters again Friday in Baltimore.
Once Webb returns, Alexi Ogando is likely to head back to the bullpen, unless Tommy Hunter returns from the disabled list first.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Latos sharp in simulated game[/h3]
9:53AM ET
[h5]Mat Latos | Padres [/h5]
The San Diego Padres could end up having ace right-hander Mat Latos back in the rotation sooner than later.
The Padres got more encouraging news when Latos looked sharp in a 70-pitch simulated game Monday night, reports Bill Center of the Union Tribune.
Latos is eligible to come off the disabled list Friday, but manager Bud Black has not said when a move will be made.
The Padres have two off days this week and will bring back Opening Day starter Tim Stauffer to pitch Wednesday. Should the club use a No. 5 starter before Latos returns, right-hander Samuel Deduno, who is slated to be the club's long reliever, could get the ball.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Velocity issues with Hughes?[/h3]
9:35AM ET
[h5]Phil Hughes | Yankees [/h5]
The only blemish on the New York Yankees' season is a 10-7 loss to the Detroit Tigers on Sunday in which right-hander Phil Hughes lasted just four innings and allowed a pair of homers.
Hughes benefited from the most runs of any major league starter last season, but was unable to take advantage of yet another cushion. But the concern with Hughes is not with one rocky pitching line, but with a possible loss of velocity.
Hughes was often throwing in the low 90s miles last season, but his numbers were more in 88-90 mph range in Sunday's outing. That could have more to do with the calendar than with any arm issues, writes ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney in Tuesday's blog:
- Doug Mittler
Too much emphasis on the radar gun?
9:12AM ET
[h5]Neftali Feliz | Rangers [/h5]
The Texas Rangers waited until late in spring training before deciding to keep Neftali Feliz in the bullpen rather than move him to the rotation. Now that the decision has been made, the Rangers won't be limiting his appearances to save situations.
Feliz was called upon twice against Boston over the weekend with the Rangers up by four runs. "I'm trying to win a ballgame," manager Ron Washington told the Dallas Morning News. "If I keep waiting for a save situation, it may never happen."
Feliz finally got his first save of the season Monday night against Seattle.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Coke gets chance to start[/h3]
8:49AM ET
[h5]Phil Coke | Tigers [/h5]
Phil Coke was used out of the bullpen in the weekend series against the Yankees, but the Detroit Tigers want to find out if the 28-year-old left-hander is a viable option for the rotation.
Manager Jim Leyland said Coke could pitch an inning of relief if necessary Wednesday, but the plan is to get the southpaw ready for a weekend start against the Kansas City Royals.
Coke has made all but one of his 160 major league appearances out of the bullpen with a 3.81 ERA.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Limited at-bats for Diaz[/h3]
8:24AM ET
[h5]Matt Diaz | Pirates [/h5]
The Pittsburgh Pirates are facing a steady diet of right-handed starters, leaving Matt Diaz hungry for more at-bats.
The Pirates are not scheduled to face a left-handed starter until they meet Colorado's Jorge De La Rosa Saturday in Pittsburgh, the Bucs' ninth game of the season. The odd man out has been the righty-batting Diaz, who hopes to force a platoon in right field with Garrett Jones.
The only start for Diaz this season came Sunday when center fielder Andrew McCutchen was scratched with neck discomfort. "There will be a stretch where there will be three lefties in a row down the line somewhere. It is just the way it is," Diaz tells Colin Dunlap of the Post-Gazette.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Making room for Wilson[/h3]
8:03AM ET
[h5]Brian Wilson | Giants [/h5]
The San Francisco Giants could have closer Brian Wilson available by the middle of the week.
Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports that Wilson pitched a 27-pitch simulated game Sunday, the best sign yet that the Giants will activate him Wednesday, the first day he is eligible to come off the disabled list.
The most likely candidate for demotion when Wilson returns would seem to be Dan Runzler, but MLB.com?s Chris Haft says it is not a slam dunk. If the Giants feel Runzler's development would be helped by staying in the majors, the job of Guillermo Mota could be in jeopardy.
The Giants did not have a save opportunity in the four-game weekend series against the Dodgers.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Feliciano miffed at Warthen comments[/h3]
7:54AM ET
[h5]Pedro Feliciano | Yankees [/h5]
The first Subway Series between the Yankees and Mets in late May will have some extra spice, courtesy of Pedro Feliciano.
The reliever was at the center of controversy last weekend when Yankees general manager Brian Cashman accused the Mets of "abusing" the workhorse reliever during his tenure in Queens. Feliciano, who signed a two-year $8 million deal with the Yankees, said he was hurt by comments from Mets pitching coach Dan Warthen that the left-hander was not re-signed due to overuse.
Asked if he had called his former pitching coach to discuss his statements, Feliciano said via ESPNNewYork.com: "No, no, no. No, no, no. I don't got his number or nothing. I will show him in the Subway Series when I strike out Ike Davis, and when I jump up and down on the mound I'll be like, 'That's for you.'"
Feliciano, who started the season on the disabled list, made 92 appearances for the Mets in 2010, and appeared in games three straight days on 10 occasions.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Braves changing batting order?[/h3]
7:13AM ET
[h5]Atlanta Braves [/h5]
The Atlanta Braves say they will not change their batting order at this point, despite Nate McLouth starting the season 3-for-16 with five strikeouts.
One possibility, should manager Fredi Gonzalez change his mind, is putting second-year star Jason Heyward in the 2-hole and getting him as many trips to the plate as possible. He's easily one of the Braves' top few bats -- if not the best -- and hitting him sixth seems like a potential misuse.
Heyward did bat fifth Monday versus Milwaukee, but only because catcher Brian McCann had the day off.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Holliday's timetable[/h3]
7:12AM ET
[h5]Matt Holliday | Cardinals [/h5]
UPDATE; Holliday said Monday that he doesn't believe he will need to hit the disabled list, which means he'll be back within a week or so and Jay and Craig's extra playing time will be short lived.
Manager Tony La Russa told the Post Dispatch that having Holliday back for a weekend series against San Francisco may be "too much to ask."
...
The St. Louis Cardinals will be without Matt Holliday who will undergo an appendectomy Friday, leaving the club without its second best bat for as many as six weeks, though the club believes the doctors caught the problem early enough to limit the time missed to a week or so.
Jon Jay and Allen Craig figure to share time in left field with Holliday out, and if he does hit the DL his roster spot could be filled by Adron Chambers, the only outfielder on the 40-man roster that isn't already on the active 25-man roster.
The Cardinals could switch round their batting order, too, perhaps sliding Rasmus down in the order a bit to help drive in runs, and Lance Berkman could move up a spot and hit in the cleanup role behind Albert Pujols.
- Jason A. Churchill
Jay could put up numbers
Spoiler [+]
There were a handful of last-minute additions to major league rosters for Opening Day, including a number of surprise rookies who weren't expected to make their big clubs, or in some cases to even compete for those spots. Here's a rundown of seven of those players, with some thoughts on what the rest of 2011 might hold for them.
Aaron Crow, RHP, Kansas City: I doubt any surprise promotion has received as much attention, at least from prospect-watchers and fantasy players, as the Royals' decision to add Crow to their Opening Day roster.
Crow was the ninth overall pick in the 2008 Rule 4 draft by Washington, didn't sign (turning down over $3 million), then fell to the 13th overall pick the following year and signed in October for less money than he would have had from the Nationals. The year-plus layoff didn't seem to do him much good, and I'm hard-pressed to think of any pitcher who held out for a year, was redrafted and held his form from the first time he was picked. Crow struggled badly as a starter in Double-A last year, with a 5.66 ERA and shaky peripherals across the board, exacerbated by his lack of an effective third pitch and the expected problems with left-handed hitters (who hit .326/.408/.475 off him with 30 walks against 33 strikeouts). That said, he could be a very effective right-on-right reliever now with a solid-average fastball with good life and a sharp mid-80s slider that I saw up to 87 earlier this spring.
Tim Collins, LHP, Kansas City: Listed at 5-foot-7, 155 pounds, Collins was traded twice in July from Toronto to Atlanta to the Royals, and carries behind him a long history of strong minor league performance, including outstanding strikeout rates. He has three average or better pitches, led by a sharp 12-to-6 curveball that's his primary out pitch, as well as a solid-average fastball and changeup. I think he could be a substantial asset in the Royals' bullpen this year, especially since his repertoire allows him to face hitters on both sides of the plate.
Getty ImagesMichael Pineda still needs to develop his secondary stuff.
Michael Pineda, RHP, Seattle: As much as I like Pineda as a prospect, this promotion surprised me more than any other, because I saw Pineda this spring and didn't think he was close to ready to pitch in a big league rotation. In fact, scouts I talked to who covered Seattle thought Dustin Ackley should have made their Opening Day roster, while Pineda needed to go to Triple-A. Pineda has the big fastball and will flash an above-average slider, but it's not consistent and he barely uses a changeup, showing an enormous platoon split at two levels last year. I think he'd be more likely to use that pitch often in the lower stakes of Triple-A, and I don't see the benefit of letting him learn that pitch while accumulating major league service time. Unless he shows marked improvement with his secondary stuff, he could struggle.
Brandon Belt, 1B, San Francisco: I've said plenty about Belt as a prospect, and I'm glad he's in the big leagues. This is a different situation from Seattle and Pineda, because the value of a marginal win to San Francisco -- in a year when it's expected to contend for the playoffs -- is so much higher than the value of a marginal win to the Mariners.
Tom Wilhelmsen, RHP, Seattle: In October, I saw Wilhelmsen in the AFL and wrote about his six-year hiatus due to a marijuana suspension and eventual comeback through an independent league. He showed good velocity and a fringy curveball, but I couldn't have guessed he'd end up on an Opening Day roster this year, especially since he had never pitched above low-A in his pro career. He's 27, so he doesn't need the careful handling of a younger prospect or the concern about his service time. If the Mariners felt he could help them now, there's no reason to send him down for "seasoning" at his age. And with the addition of a mid-80s splitter-like changeup, he looks like a valuable piece in middle relief.
Mark Trumbo, 1B, LA Angels: Trumbo made the Angels' roster because of Kendry Morales' injured left foot, and it's possible that Trumbo will head back down to Triple-A once Morales returns. In the meantime, Trumbo brings the Angels some much-needed raw power -- he is bull-strong.
Cedric Hunter, OF, San Diego: Eric Patterson's injury opened the door for Hunter, a third-round pick in 2006, to make the Padres' Opening Day roster as a fourth/fifth outfielder. Hunter has some speed but isn't a burner, has a handsy swing that generates contact but not much power, and has never drawn 45 unintentional walks in a full season. He offers value because he can handle center and shouldn't get the bat knocked out of his hands, but has a very limited chance to develop into a regular.
Pedro Beato, RHP, NY Mets: With all the focus on second baseman Brad Emaus, the Mets' other pick in last year's Rule 5 draft flew under the radar but ultimately made their Opening Day roster. Beato was originally drafted by the Mets in 2005 under the old draft-and-follow system, didn't sign and went in the sandwich round the following year to Baltimore. Beato didn't show the same velocity right after signing, but picked it back up last year. Beato has four pitches and will sit 92-95 out of the pen, although he was more 90-93 in his debut the other day; he's also fully healthy again and in a better role for him. This is pure hindsight, since I didn't see Beato last year, but I think Baltimore will end up regretting the decision not to place him on the 40-man roster last fall.
Aaron Crow, RHP, Kansas City: I doubt any surprise promotion has received as much attention, at least from prospect-watchers and fantasy players, as the Royals' decision to add Crow to their Opening Day roster.
Crow was the ninth overall pick in the 2008 Rule 4 draft by Washington, didn't sign (turning down over $3 million), then fell to the 13th overall pick the following year and signed in October for less money than he would have had from the Nationals. The year-plus layoff didn't seem to do him much good, and I'm hard-pressed to think of any pitcher who held out for a year, was redrafted and held his form from the first time he was picked. Crow struggled badly as a starter in Double-A last year, with a 5.66 ERA and shaky peripherals across the board, exacerbated by his lack of an effective third pitch and the expected problems with left-handed hitters (who hit .326/.408/.475 off him with 30 walks against 33 strikeouts). That said, he could be a very effective right-on-right reliever now with a solid-average fastball with good life and a sharp mid-80s slider that I saw up to 87 earlier this spring.
Tim Collins, LHP, Kansas City: Listed at 5-foot-7, 155 pounds, Collins was traded twice in July from Toronto to Atlanta to the Royals, and carries behind him a long history of strong minor league performance, including outstanding strikeout rates. He has three average or better pitches, led by a sharp 12-to-6 curveball that's his primary out pitch, as well as a solid-average fastball and changeup. I think he could be a substantial asset in the Royals' bullpen this year, especially since his repertoire allows him to face hitters on both sides of the plate.
Getty ImagesMichael Pineda still needs to develop his secondary stuff.
Michael Pineda, RHP, Seattle: As much as I like Pineda as a prospect, this promotion surprised me more than any other, because I saw Pineda this spring and didn't think he was close to ready to pitch in a big league rotation. In fact, scouts I talked to who covered Seattle thought Dustin Ackley should have made their Opening Day roster, while Pineda needed to go to Triple-A. Pineda has the big fastball and will flash an above-average slider, but it's not consistent and he barely uses a changeup, showing an enormous platoon split at two levels last year. I think he'd be more likely to use that pitch often in the lower stakes of Triple-A, and I don't see the benefit of letting him learn that pitch while accumulating major league service time. Unless he shows marked improvement with his secondary stuff, he could struggle.
Brandon Belt, 1B, San Francisco: I've said plenty about Belt as a prospect, and I'm glad he's in the big leagues. This is a different situation from Seattle and Pineda, because the value of a marginal win to San Francisco -- in a year when it's expected to contend for the playoffs -- is so much higher than the value of a marginal win to the Mariners.
Tom Wilhelmsen, RHP, Seattle: In October, I saw Wilhelmsen in the AFL and wrote about his six-year hiatus due to a marijuana suspension and eventual comeback through an independent league. He showed good velocity and a fringy curveball, but I couldn't have guessed he'd end up on an Opening Day roster this year, especially since he had never pitched above low-A in his pro career. He's 27, so he doesn't need the careful handling of a younger prospect or the concern about his service time. If the Mariners felt he could help them now, there's no reason to send him down for "seasoning" at his age. And with the addition of a mid-80s splitter-like changeup, he looks like a valuable piece in middle relief.
Mark Trumbo, 1B, LA Angels: Trumbo made the Angels' roster because of Kendry Morales' injured left foot, and it's possible that Trumbo will head back down to Triple-A once Morales returns. In the meantime, Trumbo brings the Angels some much-needed raw power -- he is bull-strong.
Cedric Hunter, OF, San Diego: Eric Patterson's injury opened the door for Hunter, a third-round pick in 2006, to make the Padres' Opening Day roster as a fourth/fifth outfielder. Hunter has some speed but isn't a burner, has a handsy swing that generates contact but not much power, and has never drawn 45 unintentional walks in a full season. He offers value because he can handle center and shouldn't get the bat knocked out of his hands, but has a very limited chance to develop into a regular.
Pedro Beato, RHP, NY Mets: With all the focus on second baseman Brad Emaus, the Mets' other pick in last year's Rule 5 draft flew under the radar but ultimately made their Opening Day roster. Beato was originally drafted by the Mets in 2005 under the old draft-and-follow system, didn't sign and went in the sandwich round the following year to Baltimore. Beato didn't show the same velocity right after signing, but picked it back up last year. Beato has four pitches and will sit 92-95 out of the pen, although he was more 90-93 in his debut the other day; he's also fully healthy again and in a better role for him. This is pure hindsight, since I didn't see Beato last year, but I think Baltimore will end up regretting the decision not to place him on the 40-man roster last fall.
Spoiler [+]
Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts relayed to right fielder Nick Markakis how he had stopped at a Baltimore-area store Monday, and how the patrons he had bumped into possessed an unusual enthusiasm. Young or old, it didn't matter. "Everybody was talking about the Orioles," Roberts told Markakis.
Getty ImagesWinning no longer seems like an independent coincidence unrelated to Showalter's presence.
The same thing continued to hover over Camden Yards before and during the Orioles' home opener Monday, the whole place filled with orange and black and hope. "It was completely different than anything I've seen before," Markakis said over the phone on Monday night. "Just the vibe at the ballpark, from the first pitch all the way to the end. It's something we haven't seen before."
Not in the ballpark, anyway. But the roots of Orioles fans have run deep and thick for years. When I interviewed for a job at the Baltimore Sun in January 1995, I was told repeatedly then that the Orioles' beat was considered to be the most important at the newspaper. "You will never hear these words: 'We don't have room for that Orioles' story,'" said Jack Gibbons, then the sports editor at the Sun.
A lot has happened since then, and over 13 consecutive losing seasons, fans frustrated by the management style of Orioles owner Peter Angelos abandoned Camden Yards, leaving seats that for years had been filled every night and every day. But the passion remained, dormant. Over the past couple of years, I've spent a lot of time in Aberdeen, S.D., which had once been a way station for every Orioles prospect from Pat Gillick to Jim Palmer, and is also the birthplace of Terry Francona -- and in the dead of winter, you will still see Orioles caps, folks waiting for a reason to believe the losing will finally stop.
That time seems to be here, now that Buck Showalter is managing, now that the Orioles have a good core of young pitching, in Brian Matusz and Zach Britton, and with a lineup deep enough to compete in the AL East. Baltimore played well in the final two months of last season, and this winter Markakis could see a change at the team's annual fanfest, in the excitement and the level of expectation. "The fans are here," Markakis said. "We've just got to give them a reason to come out. Today was an awesome day, and hopefully we can continue to do that."
[h4]Show Stopper[/h4]
If the season started Aug. 3, 2010, when Buck Showalter took over the O's.
[table][tr][th=""]Team[/th][th=""]W-L[/th][th=""]GB[/th][/tr][tr][td]1. Orioles[/td][td]38-23[/td][td]--[/td][/tr][tr][td]2. Blue Jays[/td][td]32-27[/td][td]5[/td][/tr][tr][td]3. Yankees[/td][td]32-29[/td][td]6[/td][/tr][tr][td]4. Rays[/td][td]30-30[/td][td]7 1/2[/td][/tr][tr][td]5. Red Sox[/td][td]29-30[/td][td]8[/td][/tr][/table]
Showalter is getting a lot of credit for the success, rightly, but he knows the Orioles still have work to do; the evolution must continue if Baltimore is going to contend seriously against the Yankees and Red Sox. They need more pitching, more consistency in the offense. Showalter told the players at the outset of spring training that the winter work of the front office was finished, and that the managers and the coaches can only do so much; it comes down to the players.
On Monday, the Orioles' players were good. Roberts mashed a pivotal home run, his second of the season, and yet again the pitching was good; Baltimore's ERA in the first four games is a clean 1.00, and the staff has held opponents to a .152 average.
It's a start.
[h3]Notables[/h3]
• A festive crowd embraced the Orioles during their victory Monday, as Jeff Zrebiec writes. The Orioles have been winning without much help from the middle of their order, writes Peter Schmuck. A new concessionaire is a hit with fans, writes Richard Gorelick.
Jeremy Guthrie will not make his scheduled start on Wednesday.
From Elias: The Orioles tied the major league record of four consecutive wins to start a season while allowing no more than one run in each game. The 1915 Phillies, 1991 White Sox and 2007 Mets are the only other teams to start that way.
• The timing was not good for Erik Bedard to make his 2011 debut on Monday, because he had to go toe-to-toe against baseball's version of a bulldozer -- the Texas Rangers' lineup. The Rangers created a margin for error for Derek Holland and now have 13 homers in their first four games, the second-most in history, and this is where their collective numbers stand:
OBP: .387
Slugging: .722
OPS: 1.108
Runs per game: 8.0
Three players in baseball history have hit a home run in each of the first four games of a season. Mark McGwire (199, Willie Mays (1971) and now Nelson Cruz. McGwire finished with 70, Mays just 18. Texas players have 26 extra-base hits over their first four games. Only one team in major league history has had a higher total over a season's first four games: the Yankees had 30 extra-base hits over a similar span in 2003. The Rangers tied for second all time in most team home runs in their first four games, behind the '06 Tigers (16). The Rangers are tied at 13 with the '98 Mariners.
• That ticking sound you hear is the countdown clock until two questions are raised, inevitably, about all the home runs being hit early in the season.
First: The question of whether the baseballs have been juiced, in the aftermath of the extraordinary pitching seen in 2010.
Update: In response to my question, MLB spokesperson Pat Courtney replied: "There has been no change whatsoever on the composition of the baseball or the process in which they are made."
Second: The question of whether there are more players using performance-enhancing drugs. No major leaguer has been suspended for a PED violation at the outset of this season, a fact that really means nothing. If you are a player intent on beating the system, everybody knows you can pass through the HGH loophole without detection because there is no blood test in place. We should know from experience -- from history -- that no one should assume anything about innocence, or guilt, given the dynamics in place.
• Phil Hughes' diminished velocity is the talk of New York, but within the Yankees' organization, they are hoping that history manifests. In every year other than in 2010, Hughes has tended to build velocity during the course of the season. Last year, he started out throwing 92-93 mph, and had a strong season. The Yankees are hoping that he'll build arm strength as the season continues.
• Derek Jeter has started slowly -- he went hitless on Monday, with his average dipping to .143 -- but he did have the best swings of his season, lining out to right field and to left.
[h3]Dings and dents[/h3]
1. There is word within this notebook about how Ubaldo Jimenez is treating his cut cuticle.
2. Brandon Webb hit three hitters during a live batting practice session.
3. Andrew McCutchen is healthy enough to play.
4. Matt Holliday says he's feeling better, writes Rick Hummel.
5. Stephen Drew's condition is improving, writes Nick Piecoro.
6. Mat Latos looked good in his rehab start.
[h3]Moves, deals and decisions[/h3]
1. Frank McCourt may be nearing a settlement, and might work to make a move that could put the onus on the commissioner, writes Bill Shaikin.
2. Harmon Killebrew will throw out the first pitch at the Twins' home opener, writes Charley Walters.
3. Mike Leake might have to pitch effectively to avoid the minors, he knows. The Reds can match their 1990 start.
4. Nationals manager Jim Riggleman has a bench full of veterans, which makes for some tough choices, as Adam Kilgore writes. It's fairly apparent that the Nationals have a prickly situation with catcher Pudge Rodriguez, who is 183 hits shy of 3,000 -- at a time when the team's preference is to play their future catcher, Wilson Ramos. The best approach might be direct: Maybe the Nationals should just spell out their intentions for Rodriguez and give him a choice to embrace a role as Ramos' backup or be released. Washington owes it to itself to build for years to come, and you can't blame Rodriguez for wanting the best chance to play regularly.
5. Ben Zobrist could move into the No. 3 spot, in the absence of Evan Longoria. The news keeps getting worse for the Rays.
6. The Royals signed Jeff Suppan to a minor league deal.
7. With Brian Wilson set to come off the disabled list Wednesday, the Giants have a roster decision to make, writes Henry Schulman.
8. The Angels are losing patience with Scott Kazmir. The bottom line: There is little evidence in the way Kazmir is pitching that he is going to get better.
[h3]The Big Game[/h3]
The Red Sox got pounded in Texas, and tonight, they will look for Josh Beckett to turn them around, against the Indians. Jason Varitek will make his first start of the year, and the timing seems right, as Peter Abraham writes. Boston pitching coach Curt Young is unfazed by how the Red Sox have started. [h3]Monday's games[/h3]
1. Charlie Morton was the man for the Pirates. Some scouts mentioned to me that they think the Pirates will finish ahead of the Astros this year, a sign of progress. How Morton won, from Jacob Nitzberg of ESPN Stats & Information:
A. He stayed primarily inside to right-handers (40 of 66 pitches) and had success. Right-handers were 1-for-12 (.083) with two strikeouts on pitches inside.
B. He mixed in 39 sinkers with 44 fastballs (85.6 percent of total pitches). Morton retired six Cardinals with the sinker and nine with the fastball.
C. The Cardinals went 0-for-5 on pitches up against Morton, who allowed an opponent batting average of .302 on pitches up in 2010.
2. Ivan Nova worked his way out of trouble, as Ben Shpigel writes. Nova showed impressive composure, writes Wayne Coffey.
3. Randy Wells went into spring training on a mission to hold down his job, and he was excellent in his first outing of the year. How he won:
A. He relied on his changeup: Wells threw 26 changeups out of 99 pitches (26.3 percent), well above his 17.1 percent average in 2010. The Diamondbacks went just 1-for-7 (.143) against the pitch, missing on 41.2 percent of their swings and swinging on 11 of 20 out of the zone, resulting in three strikeouts.
B. He kept the ball down: Wells threw 67.7 percent of his pitches down in the zone, and Diamondbacks hitters went just 2-for-12 (.167), including all six of their strikeouts. Of the six strikeouts, five were on pitches out of the strike zone, all of which were swinging.
The crowd at Wrigley was the smallest in nine years.
4. The Twins keep losing to the Yankees. As Tyler Kepner writes, Minnesota is 6-31 in New York in Ron Gardenhire's time as manager. Scott Baker was kicking himself after the game for a pitch he failed to execute, as Joe Christensen writes.
From Elias: The Yanks are now 46-16 (.742) in regular-season games against the Twins since Ron Gardenhire became the Minnesota manager in 2002. It's the highest winning percentage by one major league team against another from the same league over that span. For the Twins, no other team is close. They are 34-43 against the A's, and 29-36 against the Jays.
5. The Cardinals were shut down.
6. Brandon Beachy continues to earn the respect of teammates, as David O'Brien writes.
7. Erik Bedard was back on the mound but lost, as Geoff Baker writes.
8. Rick Porcello lost, but felt his outing was OK. Miguel Cabrera played sick.
9. The Brewers are 0-4, and now their mission is simple, writes Tom Haudricourt. Michael Hunt doesn't want to think about a worst-case scenario.
[h3]The Patience Index[/h3]
[h4]Hacking With Impunity[/h4]
Yadier Molina was among the leaders in pitches seen Monday, but he wasn't watching many of them. Molina swung at 17 of the 23 pitches he saw, fouling off 12 and putting three into play. Julio Borbon had a similar night, swinging at 13 of the 18 pitches he saw, fouling off 10 and putting the other three in play. Most pitches per plate appearance (min. 3):
[table][tr][th=""]Player[/th][th=""]TP[/th][th=""]PA[/th][th=""]P/PA[/th][/tr][tr][td]Julio Borbon, TEX[/td][td]18[/td][td]3[/td][td]6.0[/td][/tr][tr][td]Carlos Gomez, MIL[/td][td]23[/td][td]4[/td][td]5.8[/td][/tr][tr][td]Yadier Molina, STL[/td][td]23[/td][td]4[/td][td]5.8[/td][/tr][tr][td]David Ross, ATL[/td][td]16[/td][td]3[/td][td]5.3[/td][/tr][tr][td]Brett Gardner, NYY[/td][td]21[/td][td]4[/td][td]5.3[/td][/tr][/table]
Rumors.
http://[h3]Setback for Webb?[/h3]
10:08AM ET
[h5]Brandon Webb | Rangers [/h5]
The Texas Rangers' master plan for 2011 calls for significant contributions from free agent signee Brandon Webb, who has pitched in all of one game since 2009 due to shoulder problems.
Webb began the season on the disabled list and a speedy return seems more unlikely after the right-hander did his best Nuke LaLoosh impersonation by plunking three hitters in a batting practice session Monday in Arizona. The good news was that Webb was able to throw 70 pitches without pain and will face hitters again Friday in Baltimore.
Once Webb returns, Alexi Ogando is likely to head back to the bullpen, unless Tommy Hunter returns from the disabled list first.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Latos sharp in simulated game[/h3]
9:53AM ET
[h5]Mat Latos | Padres [/h5]
The San Diego Padres could end up having ace right-hander Mat Latos back in the rotation sooner than later.
The Padres got more encouraging news when Latos looked sharp in a 70-pitch simulated game Monday night, reports Bill Center of the Union Tribune.
Latos is eligible to come off the disabled list Friday, but manager Bud Black has not said when a move will be made.
The Padres have two off days this week and will bring back Opening Day starter Tim Stauffer to pitch Wednesday. Should the club use a No. 5 starter before Latos returns, right-hander Samuel Deduno, who is slated to be the club's long reliever, could get the ball.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Velocity issues with Hughes?[/h3]
9:35AM ET
[h5]Phil Hughes | Yankees [/h5]
The only blemish on the New York Yankees' season is a 10-7 loss to the Detroit Tigers on Sunday in which right-hander Phil Hughes lasted just four innings and allowed a pair of homers.
Hughes benefited from the most runs of any major league starter last season, but was unable to take advantage of yet another cushion. But the concern with Hughes is not with one rocky pitching line, but with a possible loss of velocity.
Hughes was often throwing in the low 90s miles last season, but his numbers were more in 88-90 mph range in Sunday's outing. That could have more to do with the calendar than with any arm issues, writes ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney in Tuesday's blog:
- Doug Mittler
[h5]Buster Olney[/h5]
Too much emphasis on the radar gun?
Getty ImagesWinning no longer seems like an independent coincidence unrelated to Showalter's presence.
The same thing continued to hover over Camden Yards before and during the Orioles' home opener Monday, the whole place filled with orange and black and hope. "It was completely different than anything I've seen before," Markakis said over the phone on Monday night. "Just the vibe at the ballpark, from the first pitch all the way to the end. It's something we haven't seen before."
Not in the ballpark, anyway. But the roots of Orioles fans have run deep and thick for years. When I interviewed for a job at the Baltimore Sun in January 1995, I was told repeatedly then that the Orioles' beat was considered to be the most important at the newspaper. "You will never hear these words: 'We don't have room for that Orioles' story,'" said Jack Gibbons, then the sports editor at the Sun.
A lot has happened since then, and over 13 consecutive losing seasons, fans frustrated by the management style of Orioles owner Peter Angelos abandoned Camden Yards, leaving seats that for years had been filled every night and every day. But the passion remained, dormant. Over the past couple of years, I've spent a lot of time in Aberdeen, S.D., which had once been a way station for every Orioles prospect from Pat Gillick to Jim Palmer, and is also the birthplace of Terry Francona -- and in the dead of winter, you will still see Orioles caps, folks waiting for a reason to believe the losing will finally stop.
That time seems to be here, now that Buck Showalter is managing, now that the Orioles have a good core of young pitching, in Brian Matusz and Zach Britton, and with a lineup deep enough to compete in the AL East. Baltimore played well in the final two months of last season, and this winter Markakis could see a change at the team's annual fanfest, in the excitement and the level of expectation. "The fans are here," Markakis said. "We've just got to give them a reason to come out. Today was an awesome day, and hopefully we can continue to do that."
[h4]Show Stopper[/h4]
If the season started Aug. 3, 2010, when Buck Showalter took over the O's.
[table][tr][th=""]Team[/th][th=""]W-L[/th][th=""]GB[/th][/tr][tr][td]1. Orioles[/td][td]38-23[/td][td]--[/td][/tr][tr][td]2. Blue Jays[/td][td]32-27[/td][td]5[/td][/tr][tr][td]3. Yankees[/td][td]32-29[/td][td]6[/td][/tr][tr][td]4. Rays[/td][td]30-30[/td][td]7 1/2[/td][/tr][tr][td]5. Red Sox[/td][td]29-30[/td][td]8[/td][/tr][/table]
Showalter is getting a lot of credit for the success, rightly, but he knows the Orioles still have work to do; the evolution must continue if Baltimore is going to contend seriously against the Yankees and Red Sox. They need more pitching, more consistency in the offense. Showalter told the players at the outset of spring training that the winter work of the front office was finished, and that the managers and the coaches can only do so much; it comes down to the players.
On Monday, the Orioles' players were good. Roberts mashed a pivotal home run, his second of the season, and yet again the pitching was good; Baltimore's ERA in the first four games is a clean 1.00, and the staff has held opponents to a .152 average.
It's a start.
[h3]Notables[/h3]
• A festive crowd embraced the Orioles during their victory Monday, as Jeff Zrebiec writes. The Orioles have been winning without much help from the middle of their order, writes Peter Schmuck. A new concessionaire is a hit with fans, writes Richard Gorelick.
Jeremy Guthrie will not make his scheduled start on Wednesday.
From Elias: The Orioles tied the major league record of four consecutive wins to start a season while allowing no more than one run in each game. The 1915 Phillies, 1991 White Sox and 2007 Mets are the only other teams to start that way.
• The timing was not good for Erik Bedard to make his 2011 debut on Monday, because he had to go toe-to-toe against baseball's version of a bulldozer -- the Texas Rangers' lineup. The Rangers created a margin for error for Derek Holland and now have 13 homers in their first four games, the second-most in history, and this is where their collective numbers stand:
OBP: .387
Slugging: .722
OPS: 1.108
Runs per game: 8.0
Three players in baseball history have hit a home run in each of the first four games of a season. Mark McGwire (199
, Willie Mays (1971) and now Nelson Cruz. McGwire finished with 70, Mays just 18. Texas players have 26 extra-base hits over their first four games. Only one team in major league history has had a higher total over a season's first four games: the Yankees had 30 extra-base hits over a similar span in 2003. The Rangers tied for second all time in most team home runs in their first four games, behind the '06 Tigers (16). The Rangers are tied at 13 with the '98 Mariners.• That ticking sound you hear is the countdown clock until two questions are raised, inevitably, about all the home runs being hit early in the season.
First: The question of whether the baseballs have been juiced, in the aftermath of the extraordinary pitching seen in 2010.
Update: In response to my question, MLB spokesperson Pat Courtney replied: "There has been no change whatsoever on the composition of the baseball or the process in which they are made."
Second: The question of whether there are more players using performance-enhancing drugs. No major leaguer has been suspended for a PED violation at the outset of this season, a fact that really means nothing. If you are a player intent on beating the system, everybody knows you can pass through the HGH loophole without detection because there is no blood test in place. We should know from experience -- from history -- that no one should assume anything about innocence, or guilt, given the dynamics in place.
• Phil Hughes' diminished velocity is the talk of New York, but within the Yankees' organization, they are hoping that history manifests. In every year other than in 2010, Hughes has tended to build velocity during the course of the season. Last year, he started out throwing 92-93 mph, and had a strong season. The Yankees are hoping that he'll build arm strength as the season continues.
• Derek Jeter has started slowly -- he went hitless on Monday, with his average dipping to .143 -- but he did have the best swings of his season, lining out to right field and to left.
[h3]Dings and dents[/h3]
1. There is word within this notebook about how Ubaldo Jimenez is treating his cut cuticle.
2. Brandon Webb hit three hitters during a live batting practice session.
3. Andrew McCutchen is healthy enough to play.
4. Matt Holliday says he's feeling better, writes Rick Hummel.
5. Stephen Drew's condition is improving, writes Nick Piecoro.
6. Mat Latos looked good in his rehab start.
[h3]Moves, deals and decisions[/h3]
1. Frank McCourt may be nearing a settlement, and might work to make a move that could put the onus on the commissioner, writes Bill Shaikin.
2. Harmon Killebrew will throw out the first pitch at the Twins' home opener, writes Charley Walters.
3. Mike Leake might have to pitch effectively to avoid the minors, he knows. The Reds can match their 1990 start.
4. Nationals manager Jim Riggleman has a bench full of veterans, which makes for some tough choices, as Adam Kilgore writes. It's fairly apparent that the Nationals have a prickly situation with catcher Pudge Rodriguez, who is 183 hits shy of 3,000 -- at a time when the team's preference is to play their future catcher, Wilson Ramos. The best approach might be direct: Maybe the Nationals should just spell out their intentions for Rodriguez and give him a choice to embrace a role as Ramos' backup or be released. Washington owes it to itself to build for years to come, and you can't blame Rodriguez for wanting the best chance to play regularly.
5. Ben Zobrist could move into the No. 3 spot, in the absence of Evan Longoria. The news keeps getting worse for the Rays.
6. The Royals signed Jeff Suppan to a minor league deal.
7. With Brian Wilson set to come off the disabled list Wednesday, the Giants have a roster decision to make, writes Henry Schulman.
8. The Angels are losing patience with Scott Kazmir. The bottom line: There is little evidence in the way Kazmir is pitching that he is going to get better.
[h3]The Big Game[/h3]
The Red Sox got pounded in Texas, and tonight, they will look for Josh Beckett to turn them around, against the Indians. Jason Varitek will make his first start of the year, and the timing seems right, as Peter Abraham writes. Boston pitching coach Curt Young is unfazed by how the Red Sox have started. [h3]Monday's games[/h3]
1. Charlie Morton was the man for the Pirates. Some scouts mentioned to me that they think the Pirates will finish ahead of the Astros this year, a sign of progress. How Morton won, from Jacob Nitzberg of ESPN Stats & Information:
A. He stayed primarily inside to right-handers (40 of 66 pitches) and had success. Right-handers were 1-for-12 (.083) with two strikeouts on pitches inside.
B. He mixed in 39 sinkers with 44 fastballs (85.6 percent of total pitches). Morton retired six Cardinals with the sinker and nine with the fastball.
C. The Cardinals went 0-for-5 on pitches up against Morton, who allowed an opponent batting average of .302 on pitches up in 2010.
2. Ivan Nova worked his way out of trouble, as Ben Shpigel writes. Nova showed impressive composure, writes Wayne Coffey.
3. Randy Wells went into spring training on a mission to hold down his job, and he was excellent in his first outing of the year. How he won:
A. He relied on his changeup: Wells threw 26 changeups out of 99 pitches (26.3 percent), well above his 17.1 percent average in 2010. The Diamondbacks went just 1-for-7 (.143) against the pitch, missing on 41.2 percent of their swings and swinging on 11 of 20 out of the zone, resulting in three strikeouts.
B. He kept the ball down: Wells threw 67.7 percent of his pitches down in the zone, and Diamondbacks hitters went just 2-for-12 (.167), including all six of their strikeouts. Of the six strikeouts, five were on pitches out of the strike zone, all of which were swinging.
The crowd at Wrigley was the smallest in nine years.
4. The Twins keep losing to the Yankees. As Tyler Kepner writes, Minnesota is 6-31 in New York in Ron Gardenhire's time as manager. Scott Baker was kicking himself after the game for a pitch he failed to execute, as Joe Christensen writes.
From Elias: The Yanks are now 46-16 (.742) in regular-season games against the Twins since Ron Gardenhire became the Minnesota manager in 2002. It's the highest winning percentage by one major league team against another from the same league over that span. For the Twins, no other team is close. They are 34-43 against the A's, and 29-36 against the Jays.
5. The Cardinals were shut down.
6. Brandon Beachy continues to earn the respect of teammates, as David O'Brien writes.
7. Erik Bedard was back on the mound but lost, as Geoff Baker writes.
8. Rick Porcello lost, but felt his outing was OK. Miguel Cabrera played sick.
9. The Brewers are 0-4, and now their mission is simple, writes Tom Haudricourt. Michael Hunt doesn't want to think about a worst-case scenario.
[h3]The Patience Index[/h3]
[h4]Hacking With Impunity[/h4]
Yadier Molina was among the leaders in pitches seen Monday, but he wasn't watching many of them. Molina swung at 17 of the 23 pitches he saw, fouling off 12 and putting three into play. Julio Borbon had a similar night, swinging at 13 of the 18 pitches he saw, fouling off 10 and putting the other three in play. Most pitches per plate appearance (min. 3):
[table][tr][th=""]Player[/th][th=""]TP[/th][th=""]PA[/th][th=""]P/PA[/th][/tr][tr][td]Julio Borbon, TEX[/td][td]18[/td][td]3[/td][td]6.0[/td][/tr][tr][td]Carlos Gomez, MIL[/td][td]23[/td][td]4[/td][td]5.8[/td][/tr][tr][td]Yadier Molina, STL[/td][td]23[/td][td]4[/td][td]5.8[/td][/tr][tr][td]David Ross, ATL[/td][td]16[/td][td]3[/td][td]5.3[/td][/tr][tr][td]Brett Gardner, NYY[/td][td]21[/td][td]4[/td][td]5.3[/td][/tr][/table]
Rumors.
Spoiler [+]
http://[h3]Is Young being shopped?[/h3]
11:23AM ET
[h5]Michael Young | Rangers [/h5]
After shopping http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=4566Michael Young for months, the http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/tex/texas-rangersTexas Rangers found enough at-bats for the face of the franchise during the season's first week. Young, the man without a full-time position following the signing of Adrian Beltre, has started each of the first four games, either at second base or DH.
GM Jon Daniels has been trying to mend the fences with Young, but Nick Cafardo wrote in Boston Globe Rangers haven't closed the door on a trade, with the Phillies and Mets remaining possibilities as they consider second base options.
Daniels countered in a Monday interview with MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM that the Rangers have no current conversations about trading any of their players, Young included.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Guthrie may miss just one start[/h3]
11:11AM ET
[h5]Baltimore Orioles [/h5]
UPDATE: If Guthrie is not ready by Sunday, Ken Rosenthal tweets Tuesday morning that the O's options will include minor leaguers Ryan Drese, Mike Ballard and Chris Jakubauskas.
--
Buck Showalter has the Baltimore Orioles off to its first 4-0 start since 1997, even with a thinned-out starting rotation that took another hit Monday.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=5370Jeremy Guthrie was taken to the hospital Monday with flu-like symptoms and was diagnosed with a viral infection. Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com says Guthrie will be sidelined for five to seven days, including his next scheduled outing on Wednesday against Detroit.
Fifth starter Brad Bergesen, originally expected to make his first start Sunday, will move up to Wednesday. The Orioles now hope Guthrie will be back to start that contest, which is against the Rangers.
The Orioles already have starters Brian Matusz and Justin Duchscherer on the disabled list. The O's recalled top prospect Zach Britton to take Matusz's rotation spot, and Showalter said Monday he doesn't anticipate needing to make another roster move with Guthrie.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Kazmir's days numbered?[/h3]
11:03AM ET
[h5]Scott Kazmir | Angels [/h5]
Scott Kazmir entered the season with little margin for error, and the Angels left-hander may have used it up in a brutal performance Sunday against the Kansas City Royals.
Kazmir failed to make it out of the second inning, allowing five hits and five runs while hitting two batters. A scout of the AL central club told Rumor Central's Jason A. Churchill that Kazmir sat 84-86 with his fastball and couldn't find his release point.
The Angels appear to be growing short of patience with Kazmir, but Kevin Baxter of the Los Angeles Times says it's unclear whether the club is frustrated enough to eat the $14.5 million left on his contract.
At the very least, Kazmir's rotation spot is in serious jeopardy, and a decision could come when pitchers Scott Downs and Joel Pineiro come off the disabled list.
The Angels could try sending Kazmir to the bullpen, but that is not always the right place for an erratic left-hander to work out his problems. Just ask the New York Mets, who tried that with Oliver Perez before finally cutting the cord.
Kazmir is slated to hit the open market in November and what he puts forth on the mound in 2011 will greatly impact his free agent value, wrote ESPNLosAngeles.com's Mark Saxon.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Zobrist may continue to bat third[/h3]
10:36AM ET
[h5]Ben Zobrist | Rays [/h5]
With Evan Longoria sidelined for at least three weeks with an oblique injury, the Tampa Bay Rays are left with a gaping hole in the middle of the order.
Ben Zobrist was moved into Longoria's third spot in Sunday's loss to Baltimore, and manager Joe Maddon might keep him there for the near future, reports Joe Smith of the St. Petersburg Times.
Entering the season, the plan was for the switch-hitting Zobrist to hit atop the lineup against right-handed pitchers. Putting him into the third spot allows Maddon to keep Johnny Damon in the No. 2 hole with Manny Ramirez batting cleanup.
The versatile Zobrist started games in all nine slots in the order in 2010. His best average came out of the No. 3 spot, where he hit .296 in 41 games.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Catching plan in D.C.[/h3]
10:19AM ET
[h5]Washington Nationals [/h5]
Veteran Ivan Rodriguez got the nod on Opening Day, but the Washington Nationals plan on alternating starting catchers for the first 10 games or so, splitting the starts and overall playing time somewhere down the middle, tweets Bill Ladson of MLB.com. But it appears clear that Wilson Ramos is being groomed to take over the regular duties.
Once that occurs, and that likely depends upon his performance more than anything else, Rodriguez could become prime trade bait. The Nationals have Jesus Flores in the minors who could eventually come up and handle the backup job.
Rodriguez is still capable of helping clubs, so the Nationals should have no problem finding a trade match, and while they aren't likely to get a major haul in return, it should be beneficial to the club.
One team that may eventually be in the market for such help is the Texas Rangers, who are using Yorvit Torrealba and Mike Napoli at catcher now, but Napoli is considered a sub par defender and a bat manager Ron Washington would like to use at DH more than he really can.
Our Buster Olney gives his take on the catching situation in DC:
- Jason A. Churchill
[h5]Buster Olney[/h5]
What to do with Pudge?
11:23AM ET
[h5]Michael Young | Rangers [/h5]
After shopping http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=4566Michael Young for months, the http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/tex/texas-rangersTexas Rangers found enough at-bats for the face of the franchise during the season's first week. Young, the man without a full-time position following the signing of Adrian Beltre, has started each of the first four games, either at second base or DH.
GM Jon Daniels has been trying to mend the fences with Young, but Nick Cafardo wrote in Boston Globe Rangers haven't closed the door on a trade, with the Phillies and Mets remaining possibilities as they consider second base options.
Daniels countered in a Monday interview with MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM that the Rangers have no current conversations about trading any of their players, Young included.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Guthrie may miss just one start[/h3]
11:11AM ET
[h5]Baltimore Orioles [/h5]
UPDATE: If Guthrie is not ready by Sunday, Ken Rosenthal tweets Tuesday morning that the O's options will include minor leaguers Ryan Drese, Mike Ballard and Chris Jakubauskas.
--
Buck Showalter has the Baltimore Orioles off to its first 4-0 start since 1997, even with a thinned-out starting rotation that took another hit Monday.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=5370Jeremy Guthrie was taken to the hospital Monday with flu-like symptoms and was diagnosed with a viral infection. Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com says Guthrie will be sidelined for five to seven days, including his next scheduled outing on Wednesday against Detroit.
Fifth starter Brad Bergesen, originally expected to make his first start Sunday, will move up to Wednesday. The Orioles now hope Guthrie will be back to start that contest, which is against the Rangers.
The Orioles already have starters Brian Matusz and Justin Duchscherer on the disabled list. The O's recalled top prospect Zach Britton to take Matusz's rotation spot, and Showalter said Monday he doesn't anticipate needing to make another roster move with Guthrie.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Kazmir's days numbered?[/h3]
11:03AM ET
[h5]Scott Kazmir | Angels [/h5]
Scott Kazmir entered the season with little margin for error, and the Angels left-hander may have used it up in a brutal performance Sunday against the Kansas City Royals.
Kazmir failed to make it out of the second inning, allowing five hits and five runs while hitting two batters. A scout of the AL central club told Rumor Central's Jason A. Churchill that Kazmir sat 84-86 with his fastball and couldn't find his release point.
The Angels appear to be growing short of patience with Kazmir, but Kevin Baxter of the Los Angeles Times says it's unclear whether the club is frustrated enough to eat the $14.5 million left on his contract.
At the very least, Kazmir's rotation spot is in serious jeopardy, and a decision could come when pitchers Scott Downs and Joel Pineiro come off the disabled list.
The Angels could try sending Kazmir to the bullpen, but that is not always the right place for an erratic left-hander to work out his problems. Just ask the New York Mets, who tried that with Oliver Perez before finally cutting the cord.
Kazmir is slated to hit the open market in November and what he puts forth on the mound in 2011 will greatly impact his free agent value, wrote ESPNLosAngeles.com's Mark Saxon.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Zobrist may continue to bat third[/h3]
10:36AM ET
[h5]Ben Zobrist | Rays [/h5]
With Evan Longoria sidelined for at least three weeks with an oblique injury, the Tampa Bay Rays are left with a gaping hole in the middle of the order.
Ben Zobrist was moved into Longoria's third spot in Sunday's loss to Baltimore, and manager Joe Maddon might keep him there for the near future, reports Joe Smith of the St. Petersburg Times.
Entering the season, the plan was for the switch-hitting Zobrist to hit atop the lineup against right-handed pitchers. Putting him into the third spot allows Maddon to keep Johnny Damon in the No. 2 hole with Manny Ramirez batting cleanup.
The versatile Zobrist started games in all nine slots in the order in 2010. His best average came out of the No. 3 spot, where he hit .296 in 41 games.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Catching plan in D.C.[/h3]
10:19AM ET
[h5]Washington Nationals [/h5]
Veteran Ivan Rodriguez got the nod on Opening Day, but the Washington Nationals plan on alternating starting catchers for the first 10 games or so, splitting the starts and overall playing time somewhere down the middle, tweets Bill Ladson of MLB.com. But it appears clear that Wilson Ramos is being groomed to take over the regular duties.
Once that occurs, and that likely depends upon his performance more than anything else, Rodriguez could become prime trade bait. The Nationals have Jesus Flores in the minors who could eventually come up and handle the backup job.
Rodriguez is still capable of helping clubs, so the Nationals should have no problem finding a trade match, and while they aren't likely to get a major haul in return, it should be beneficial to the club.
One team that may eventually be in the market for such help is the Texas Rangers, who are using Yorvit Torrealba and Mike Napoli at catcher now, but Napoli is considered a sub par defender and a bat manager Ron Washington would like to use at DH more than he really can.
Our Buster Olney gives his take on the catching situation in DC:
- Jason A. Churchill
What to do with Pudge?
10:08AM ET
[h5]Brandon Webb | Rangers [/h5]
The Texas Rangers' master plan for 2011 calls for significant contributions from free agent signee Brandon Webb, who has pitched in all of one game since 2009 due to shoulder problems.
Webb began the season on the disabled list and a speedy return seems more unlikely after the right-hander did his best Nuke LaLoosh impersonation by plunking three hitters in a batting practice session Monday in Arizona. The good news was that Webb was able to throw 70 pitches without pain and will face hitters again Friday in Baltimore.
Once Webb returns, Alexi Ogando is likely to head back to the bullpen, unless Tommy Hunter returns from the disabled list first.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Latos sharp in simulated game[/h3]
9:53AM ET
[h5]Mat Latos | Padres [/h5]
The San Diego Padres could end up having ace right-hander Mat Latos back in the rotation sooner than later.
The Padres got more encouraging news when Latos looked sharp in a 70-pitch simulated game Monday night, reports Bill Center of the Union Tribune.
Latos is eligible to come off the disabled list Friday, but manager Bud Black has not said when a move will be made.
The Padres have two off days this week and will bring back Opening Day starter Tim Stauffer to pitch Wednesday. Should the club use a No. 5 starter before Latos returns, right-hander Samuel Deduno, who is slated to be the club's long reliever, could get the ball.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Velocity issues with Hughes?[/h3]
9:35AM ET
[h5]Phil Hughes | Yankees [/h5]
The only blemish on the New York Yankees' season is a 10-7 loss to the Detroit Tigers on Sunday in which right-hander Phil Hughes lasted just four innings and allowed a pair of homers.
Hughes benefited from the most runs of any major league starter last season, but was unable to take advantage of yet another cushion. But the concern with Hughes is not with one rocky pitching line, but with a possible loss of velocity.
Hughes was often throwing in the low 90s miles last season, but his numbers were more in 88-90 mph range in Sunday's outing. That could have more to do with the calendar than with any arm issues, writes ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney in Tuesday's blog:
- Doug Mittler
Too much emphasis on the radar gun?
9:12AM ET
[h5]Neftali Feliz | Rangers [/h5]
The Texas Rangers waited until late in spring training before deciding to keep Neftali Feliz in the bullpen rather than move him to the rotation. Now that the decision has been made, the Rangers won't be limiting his appearances to save situations.
Feliz was called upon twice against Boston over the weekend with the Rangers up by four runs. "I'm trying to win a ballgame," manager Ron Washington told the Dallas Morning News. "If I keep waiting for a save situation, it may never happen."
Feliz finally got his first save of the season Monday night against Seattle.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Coke gets chance to start[/h3]
8:49AM ET
[h5]Phil Coke | Tigers [/h5]
Phil Coke was used out of the bullpen in the weekend series against the Yankees, but the Detroit Tigers want to find out if the 28-year-old left-hander is a viable option for the rotation.
Manager Jim Leyland said Coke could pitch an inning of relief if necessary Wednesday, but the plan is to get the southpaw ready for a weekend start against the Kansas City Royals.
Coke has made all but one of his 160 major league appearances out of the bullpen with a 3.81 ERA.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Limited at-bats for Diaz[/h3]
8:24AM ET
[h5]Matt Diaz | Pirates [/h5]
The Pittsburgh Pirates are facing a steady diet of right-handed starters, leaving Matt Diaz hungry for more at-bats.
The Pirates are not scheduled to face a left-handed starter until they meet Colorado's Jorge De La Rosa Saturday in Pittsburgh, the Bucs' ninth game of the season. The odd man out has been the righty-batting Diaz, who hopes to force a platoon in right field with Garrett Jones.
The only start for Diaz this season came Sunday when center fielder Andrew McCutchen was scratched with neck discomfort. "There will be a stretch where there will be three lefties in a row down the line somewhere. It is just the way it is," Diaz tells Colin Dunlap of the Post-Gazette.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Making room for Wilson[/h3]
8:03AM ET
[h5]Brian Wilson | Giants [/h5]
The San Francisco Giants could have closer Brian Wilson available by the middle of the week.
Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports that Wilson pitched a 27-pitch simulated game Sunday, the best sign yet that the Giants will activate him Wednesday, the first day he is eligible to come off the disabled list.
The most likely candidate for demotion when Wilson returns would seem to be Dan Runzler, but MLB.com?s Chris Haft says it is not a slam dunk. If the Giants feel Runzler's development would be helped by staying in the majors, the job of Guillermo Mota could be in jeopardy.
The Giants did not have a save opportunity in the four-game weekend series against the Dodgers.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Feliciano miffed at Warthen comments[/h3]
7:54AM ET
[h5]Pedro Feliciano | Yankees [/h5]
The first Subway Series between the Yankees and Mets in late May will have some extra spice, courtesy of Pedro Feliciano.
The reliever was at the center of controversy last weekend when Yankees general manager Brian Cashman accused the Mets of "abusing" the workhorse reliever during his tenure in Queens. Feliciano, who signed a two-year $8 million deal with the Yankees, said he was hurt by comments from Mets pitching coach Dan Warthen that the left-hander was not re-signed due to overuse.
Asked if he had called his former pitching coach to discuss his statements, Feliciano said via ESPNNewYork.com: "No, no, no. No, no, no. I don't got his number or nothing. I will show him in the Subway Series when I strike out Ike Davis, and when I jump up and down on the mound I'll be like, 'That's for you.'"
Feliciano, who started the season on the disabled list, made 92 appearances for the Mets in 2010, and appeared in games three straight days on 10 occasions.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Braves changing batting order?[/h3]
7:13AM ET
[h5]Atlanta Braves [/h5]
The Atlanta Braves say they will not change their batting order at this point, despite Nate McLouth starting the season 3-for-16 with five strikeouts.
One possibility, should manager Fredi Gonzalez change his mind, is putting second-year star Jason Heyward in the 2-hole and getting him as many trips to the plate as possible. He's easily one of the Braves' top few bats -- if not the best -- and hitting him sixth seems like a potential misuse.
Heyward did bat fifth Monday versus Milwaukee, but only because catcher Brian McCann had the day off.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Holliday's timetable[/h3]
7:12AM ET
[h5]Matt Holliday | Cardinals [/h5]
UPDATE; Holliday said Monday that he doesn't believe he will need to hit the disabled list, which means he'll be back within a week or so and Jay and Craig's extra playing time will be short lived.
Manager Tony La Russa told the Post Dispatch that having Holliday back for a weekend series against San Francisco may be "too much to ask."
...
The St. Louis Cardinals will be without Matt Holliday who will undergo an appendectomy Friday, leaving the club without its second best bat for as many as six weeks, though the club believes the doctors caught the problem early enough to limit the time missed to a week or so.
Jon Jay and Allen Craig figure to share time in left field with Holliday out, and if he does hit the DL his roster spot could be filled by Adron Chambers, the only outfielder on the 40-man roster that isn't already on the active 25-man roster.
The Cardinals could switch round their batting order, too, perhaps sliding Rasmus down in the order a bit to help drive in runs, and Lance Berkman could move up a spot and hit in the cleanup role behind Albert Pujols.
- Jason A. Churchill
Jay could put up numbers
Spoiler [+]
There were a handful of last-minute additions to major league rosters for Opening Day, including a number of surprise rookies who weren't expected to make their big clubs, or in some cases to even compete for those spots. Here's a rundown of seven of those players, with some thoughts on what the rest of 2011 might hold for them.
Aaron Crow, RHP, Kansas City: I doubt any surprise promotion has received as much attention, at least from prospect-watchers and fantasy players, as the Royals' decision to add Crow to their Opening Day roster.
Crow was the ninth overall pick in the 2008 Rule 4 draft by Washington, didn't sign (turning down over $3 million), then fell to the 13th overall pick the following year and signed in October for less money than he would have had from the Nationals. The year-plus layoff didn't seem to do him much good, and I'm hard-pressed to think of any pitcher who held out for a year, was redrafted and held his form from the first time he was picked. Crow struggled badly as a starter in Double-A last year, with a 5.66 ERA and shaky peripherals across the board, exacerbated by his lack of an effective third pitch and the expected problems with left-handed hitters (who hit .326/.408/.475 off him with 30 walks against 33 strikeouts). That said, he could be a very effective right-on-right reliever now with a solid-average fastball with good life and a sharp mid-80s slider that I saw up to 87 earlier this spring.
Tim Collins, LHP, Kansas City: Listed at 5-foot-7, 155 pounds, Collins was traded twice in July from Toronto to Atlanta to the Royals, and carries behind him a long history of strong minor league performance, including outstanding strikeout rates. He has three average or better pitches, led by a sharp 12-to-6 curveball that's his primary out pitch, as well as a solid-average fastball and changeup. I think he could be a substantial asset in the Royals' bullpen this year, especially since his repertoire allows him to face hitters on both sides of the plate.
Getty ImagesMichael Pineda still needs to develop his secondary stuff.
Michael Pineda, RHP, Seattle: As much as I like Pineda as a prospect, this promotion surprised me more than any other, because I saw Pineda this spring and didn't think he was close to ready to pitch in a big league rotation. In fact, scouts I talked to who covered Seattle thought Dustin Ackley should have made their Opening Day roster, while Pineda needed to go to Triple-A. Pineda has the big fastball and will flash an above-average slider, but it's not consistent and he barely uses a changeup, showing an enormous platoon split at two levels last year. I think he'd be more likely to use that pitch often in the lower stakes of Triple-A, and I don't see the benefit of letting him learn that pitch while accumulating major league service time. Unless he shows marked improvement with his secondary stuff, he could struggle.
Brandon Belt, 1B, San Francisco: I've said plenty about Belt as a prospect, and I'm glad he's in the big leagues. This is a different situation from Seattle and Pineda, because the value of a marginal win to San Francisco -- in a year when it's expected to contend for the playoffs -- is so much higher than the value of a marginal win to the Mariners.
Tom Wilhelmsen, RHP, Seattle: In October, I saw Wilhelmsen in the AFL and wrote about his six-year hiatus due to a marijuana suspension and eventual comeback through an independent league. He showed good velocity and a fringy curveball, but I couldn't have guessed he'd end up on an Opening Day roster this year, especially since he had never pitched above low-A in his pro career. He's 27, so he doesn't need the careful handling of a younger prospect or the concern about his service time. If the Mariners felt he could help them now, there's no reason to send him down for "seasoning" at his age. And with the addition of a mid-80s splitter-like changeup, he looks like a valuable piece in middle relief.
Mark Trumbo, 1B, LA Angels: Trumbo made the Angels' roster because of Kendry Morales' injured left foot, and it's possible that Trumbo will head back down to Triple-A once Morales returns. In the meantime, Trumbo brings the Angels some much-needed raw power -- he is bull-strong.
Cedric Hunter, OF, San Diego: Eric Patterson's injury opened the door for Hunter, a third-round pick in 2006, to make the Padres' Opening Day roster as a fourth/fifth outfielder. Hunter has some speed but isn't a burner, has a handsy swing that generates contact but not much power, and has never drawn 45 unintentional walks in a full season. He offers value because he can handle center and shouldn't get the bat knocked out of his hands, but has a very limited chance to develop into a regular.
Pedro Beato, RHP, NY Mets: With all the focus on second baseman Brad Emaus, the Mets' other pick in last year's Rule 5 draft flew under the radar but ultimately made their Opening Day roster. Beato was originally drafted by the Mets in 2005 under the old draft-and-follow system, didn't sign and went in the sandwich round the following year to Baltimore. Beato didn't show the same velocity right after signing, but picked it back up last year. Beato has four pitches and will sit 92-95 out of the pen, although he was more 90-93 in his debut the other day; he's also fully healthy again and in a better role for him. This is pure hindsight, since I didn't see Beato last year, but I think Baltimore will end up regretting the decision not to place him on the 40-man roster last fall.
Aaron Crow, RHP, Kansas City: I doubt any surprise promotion has received as much attention, at least from prospect-watchers and fantasy players, as the Royals' decision to add Crow to their Opening Day roster.
Crow was the ninth overall pick in the 2008 Rule 4 draft by Washington, didn't sign (turning down over $3 million), then fell to the 13th overall pick the following year and signed in October for less money than he would have had from the Nationals. The year-plus layoff didn't seem to do him much good, and I'm hard-pressed to think of any pitcher who held out for a year, was redrafted and held his form from the first time he was picked. Crow struggled badly as a starter in Double-A last year, with a 5.66 ERA and shaky peripherals across the board, exacerbated by his lack of an effective third pitch and the expected problems with left-handed hitters (who hit .326/.408/.475 off him with 30 walks against 33 strikeouts). That said, he could be a very effective right-on-right reliever now with a solid-average fastball with good life and a sharp mid-80s slider that I saw up to 87 earlier this spring.
Tim Collins, LHP, Kansas City: Listed at 5-foot-7, 155 pounds, Collins was traded twice in July from Toronto to Atlanta to the Royals, and carries behind him a long history of strong minor league performance, including outstanding strikeout rates. He has three average or better pitches, led by a sharp 12-to-6 curveball that's his primary out pitch, as well as a solid-average fastball and changeup. I think he could be a substantial asset in the Royals' bullpen this year, especially since his repertoire allows him to face hitters on both sides of the plate.
Getty ImagesMichael Pineda still needs to develop his secondary stuff.
Michael Pineda, RHP, Seattle: As much as I like Pineda as a prospect, this promotion surprised me more than any other, because I saw Pineda this spring and didn't think he was close to ready to pitch in a big league rotation. In fact, scouts I talked to who covered Seattle thought Dustin Ackley should have made their Opening Day roster, while Pineda needed to go to Triple-A. Pineda has the big fastball and will flash an above-average slider, but it's not consistent and he barely uses a changeup, showing an enormous platoon split at two levels last year. I think he'd be more likely to use that pitch often in the lower stakes of Triple-A, and I don't see the benefit of letting him learn that pitch while accumulating major league service time. Unless he shows marked improvement with his secondary stuff, he could struggle.
Brandon Belt, 1B, San Francisco: I've said plenty about Belt as a prospect, and I'm glad he's in the big leagues. This is a different situation from Seattle and Pineda, because the value of a marginal win to San Francisco -- in a year when it's expected to contend for the playoffs -- is so much higher than the value of a marginal win to the Mariners.
Tom Wilhelmsen, RHP, Seattle: In October, I saw Wilhelmsen in the AFL and wrote about his six-year hiatus due to a marijuana suspension and eventual comeback through an independent league. He showed good velocity and a fringy curveball, but I couldn't have guessed he'd end up on an Opening Day roster this year, especially since he had never pitched above low-A in his pro career. He's 27, so he doesn't need the careful handling of a younger prospect or the concern about his service time. If the Mariners felt he could help them now, there's no reason to send him down for "seasoning" at his age. And with the addition of a mid-80s splitter-like changeup, he looks like a valuable piece in middle relief.
Mark Trumbo, 1B, LA Angels: Trumbo made the Angels' roster because of Kendry Morales' injured left foot, and it's possible that Trumbo will head back down to Triple-A once Morales returns. In the meantime, Trumbo brings the Angels some much-needed raw power -- he is bull-strong.
Cedric Hunter, OF, San Diego: Eric Patterson's injury opened the door for Hunter, a third-round pick in 2006, to make the Padres' Opening Day roster as a fourth/fifth outfielder. Hunter has some speed but isn't a burner, has a handsy swing that generates contact but not much power, and has never drawn 45 unintentional walks in a full season. He offers value because he can handle center and shouldn't get the bat knocked out of his hands, but has a very limited chance to develop into a regular.
Pedro Beato, RHP, NY Mets: With all the focus on second baseman Brad Emaus, the Mets' other pick in last year's Rule 5 draft flew under the radar but ultimately made their Opening Day roster. Beato was originally drafted by the Mets in 2005 under the old draft-and-follow system, didn't sign and went in the sandwich round the following year to Baltimore. Beato didn't show the same velocity right after signing, but picked it back up last year. Beato has four pitches and will sit 92-95 out of the pen, although he was more 90-93 in his debut the other day; he's also fully healthy again and in a better role for him. This is pure hindsight, since I didn't see Beato last year, but I think Baltimore will end up regretting the decision not to place him on the 40-man roster last fall.
- 6,994
- 85
- Joined
- Aug 11, 2008
Joe Posnanski take and list on the 32 best players in baseball (long read)
Spoiler [+]
A couple of years ago, I put together a list of the Top 100 players in baseball. The list was doomed from the start, I think, not only because any list like that is doomed, and not only because I have no idea what I’m doing. The biggest problem, I think, is that I did not have a clear vision of what I wanted. I could not clarify in my own mind what I meant by “best players in baseball.
- 6,994
- 85
- Joined
- Aug 11, 2008
Joe Posnanski take and list on the 32 best players in baseball (long read)
Spoiler [+]
A couple of years ago, I put together a list of the Top 100 players in baseball. The list was doomed from the start, I think, not only because any list like that is doomed, and not only because I have no idea what I’m doing. The biggest problem, I think, is that I did not have a clear vision of what I wanted. I could not clarify in my own mind what I meant by “best players in baseball.
- 6,994
- 85
- Joined
- Aug 11, 2008
Tom Verducci take on who are todays superstars of baseball
Spoiler [+]
Some of the biggest names in baseball don't play these days. Barry Bonds is on trial, Roger Clemens is warming in the courtroom bullpen, Ken Griffey Jr. just spent his first Opening Day as a retired player and Stephen Strasburg is hurt. All of them were major drawing cards, which leaves us with . . . who?
Who are the most compelling players in 2011? To answer that question, ask yourself this one: What players have a big national profile and are remote-proof? (You're skimming channels and happen upon somebody who is batting or pitching and you immediately put down the remote.)
Hollywood might call it the "it" factor. There is something about the player that forces you to pay attention, whether it means watching televised games, buying a ticket even if he doesn't play for your favorite team or reading about him. Indeed, compel derives from the Latin for "to force."
You might be surprised (or worse, might not be) to find that baseball lacks many such outsized personalities as compared to recent history. Go back 10 years, when the Steroid Era helped bring about the greatest period of power hitting the game ever has seen. The game was loaded with massive sluggers but also strikeout pitchers and polarizing personalities.
To compare how drawing cards in the game have changed in the past decade, I compiled two lists: the Most Compelling Players of 2001 and 2011.
This is not just about the best players or the most exciting players, so you won't find Hanley Ramirez or Andrew McCutchen on this year's list. (Neither has enough of a national profile.) It's about the kind of player who drives TV ratings and magazine sales, so that means appealing to casual fans, not just those who appreciate finer baseball skills. It's about the good guys, bad guys or just plain off-center guys who have a combination of game and personality that compels the country to take notice.
Here's what the list would look like from 2001:
1. Barry Bonds, Giants
2. Sammy Sosa, Cubs
3. Randy Johnson, Diamondbacks
4. Pedro Martinez, Red Sox
5. Alex Rodriguez, Rangers
6. Roger Clemens, Yankees
7. Curt Schilling, Diamondbacks
8. Derek Jeter, Yankees
9. Kerry Wood, Cubs
10. Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners
Honorable Mention: Roberto Alomar, Jason Giambi, Ken Griffey Jr., Mark McGwire, Greg Maddux, Albert Pujols, Manny Ramirez, Mariano Rivera, Gary Sheffield, Frank Thomas.
Wow. That is some supreme star power -- with the added thump of half of the 10 most compelling players residing in New York, Chicago and Boston. The list is loaded with players both beloved and hated and players not afraid to speak up.
When you see Kerry Wood in the top 10 and Greg Maddux left out, you begin to understand the meaning of the list. Wood was 24 years old and striking out 11 batters per nine innings. Maddux was still terrific, but he was not a strikeout pitcher and was just past his prime. Griffey, McGwire and Thomas all were hurt, which keeps them out of the top 10, but they were still were Page 1 players.
In past years, players such as Mark Fidrych, Fernando Valenzuela, Bill Lee, Joe Charbonneau and Jose Canseco -- none of them are Hall of Famers -- would be on the Most Compelling Players list, just to give you a better idea of what's in play here.
What about now? The list this year can't compare to the 2001 list. It's more similar to the 2001 Honorable Mentions in terms of star power. Judge for yourself.
Here are the best attractions in baseball -- the Most Compelling Players of 2011:
1. Tim Lincecum, Giants. It's the undersized body, the whirling delivery, the hair, the strikeouts, The Freak nickname, the slacker youthfulness and now the World Series ring.
2. Josh Hamilton, Rangers. The backstory of fighting the demons of drug addiction is poignant, but Hamilton also is a 240-pound outfielder who scores from second base on infield grounders and hits 500-foot home runs. He has a lot of Mickey Mantle in him.
3. Brian Wilson, Giants. I have no idea how he is not lefthanded. Wilson is a brilliant self-promoter, friend of Charlie Sheen, national product endorser and sought-after talk show guest bedecked with signature facial hair - a ridiculously thick and dark hedgerow of a beard. He also has a violent delivery and an upper-90s fastball.
4. Aroldis Chapman, Reds. Nothing subtle here. Even the most casual fan understands the sheer entertainment value of throwing a baseball as hard as anybody who ever lived. Chapman makes pitch speeds look like cheesy FM radio stations. (You're listening to Power 105.1 FM!)
5. Roy Halladay, Phillies. The guy delivers big moments. In his first season with a contender, Halladay won 21 games, threw a perfect game and threw a postseason no-hitter. He also has a Nolan Ryan-like dignified presence, especially having overcome early career failures.
6. Jason Heyward, Braves. At 250 pounds, Heyward has a physically imposing presence, but also a magnetic smile, a knack for the dramatic (he and Kaz Matsui are the only players to homer on Opening Day in each of their first two seasons) and the appeal of being so youthful. Not 22 years old until August, Heyward is younger than Blake Griffin, Cam Newton and Christian Colon, the Royals' first-round pick, and fourth overall, in the last draft.
7. Felix Hernandez, Mariners. The list is starting to lose big-time star power, at least as far as appeal to casual fans. Hernandez is a brilliant pitcher who is fun to watch and turns only 25 years old this week. But he pitches for a bad team in the Northwest and never has pitched in a postseason game.
8. Albert Pujols, Cardinals. Perhaps we take for granted his consistency at an elite level. He has finished first or second in MVP voting seven times in his first 10 seasons. He's just not the drawing card his numbers would suggest. The intrigue about his contract, which expires after this season, does make him more compelling this year.
9. Derek Jeter, Yankees. There is no denying his star power. His replica jersey was the top seller of 2010, even in a down season when he hit .270. He might no longer be an impact player, but he has become newly fascinating now that the decline phase of his career has become such a closely watched story.
10. Bryce Harper, Nationals. Yes, a Class A player makes the list. If Hagerstown Suns games should be televised -- like some minor league starts of Strasburg last year -- I'm watching and you should, too. Harper is an 18-year-old kid with light-tower power who could be in the big leagues by the end of this season. A confident personality, and already an ambassador for the game, Harper is comfortable in the spotlight.
Strasburg, by the way, would have been number 1 or 2 on this list if he had not blown out his elbow last year. As one of the biggest drawing cards in baseball when healthy, he is sure to be high on the list whenever he makes it back from Tommy John surgery.
The top 10 is very different from what it was in 2001. None of the players are associated with controversy. None of them have hit 50 home runs. None of them have struck out 300 batters. None of them engender much dislike even among rival fans. Only Wilson might say something truly colorful. Only Jeter plays in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago or Boston.
The list is entirely subjective, so you might have others in your own Top 10. But I will give you two more levels of most compelling players -- honorable mention and, one more cut below, those who just missed the honorable mention -- to give you a sense of available star power. You will see that baseball has plenty of great players, but just not as many truly compelling players as a decade ago.
Honorable Mention: Miguel Cabrera, Robinson Cano, Cliff Lee, Evan Longoria, Ryan Howard, Joe Mauer, David Ortiz, Buster Posey, Alex Rodriguez, Troy Tulowitzki.
Just Missed: Ryan Braun, Adam Dunn, Prince Fielder, Carlos Gonzalez, Dustin Pedroia, Mariano Rivera, Ichiro Suzuki, Justin Upton, Joey Votto, Kevin Youkilis.
Steroids no doubt added to the "wow" factor of 2001. But what also is noticeable is the dearth of polarizing personalities, especially now that Milton Bradley and Manny Ramirez haven't been on the field enough in recent years to be relevant. Rodriguez comes the closest to a notorious profile. In 2001, Martinez, Clemens, Schilling, Bonds, Rodriguez, Sosa, Sheffield and others all provoked both loyalty and anger. Baseball has become a better game, a cleaner game and, judging by the nature of today's stars, a less controversial one.
Who are the most compelling players in 2011? To answer that question, ask yourself this one: What players have a big national profile and are remote-proof? (You're skimming channels and happen upon somebody who is batting or pitching and you immediately put down the remote.)
Hollywood might call it the "it" factor. There is something about the player that forces you to pay attention, whether it means watching televised games, buying a ticket even if he doesn't play for your favorite team or reading about him. Indeed, compel derives from the Latin for "to force."
You might be surprised (or worse, might not be) to find that baseball lacks many such outsized personalities as compared to recent history. Go back 10 years, when the Steroid Era helped bring about the greatest period of power hitting the game ever has seen. The game was loaded with massive sluggers but also strikeout pitchers and polarizing personalities.
To compare how drawing cards in the game have changed in the past decade, I compiled two lists: the Most Compelling Players of 2001 and 2011.
This is not just about the best players or the most exciting players, so you won't find Hanley Ramirez or Andrew McCutchen on this year's list. (Neither has enough of a national profile.) It's about the kind of player who drives TV ratings and magazine sales, so that means appealing to casual fans, not just those who appreciate finer baseball skills. It's about the good guys, bad guys or just plain off-center guys who have a combination of game and personality that compels the country to take notice.
Here's what the list would look like from 2001:
1. Barry Bonds, Giants
2. Sammy Sosa, Cubs
3. Randy Johnson, Diamondbacks
4. Pedro Martinez, Red Sox
5. Alex Rodriguez, Rangers
6. Roger Clemens, Yankees
7. Curt Schilling, Diamondbacks
8. Derek Jeter, Yankees
9. Kerry Wood, Cubs
10. Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners
Honorable Mention: Roberto Alomar, Jason Giambi, Ken Griffey Jr., Mark McGwire, Greg Maddux, Albert Pujols, Manny Ramirez, Mariano Rivera, Gary Sheffield, Frank Thomas.
Wow. That is some supreme star power -- with the added thump of half of the 10 most compelling players residing in New York, Chicago and Boston. The list is loaded with players both beloved and hated and players not afraid to speak up.
When you see Kerry Wood in the top 10 and Greg Maddux left out, you begin to understand the meaning of the list. Wood was 24 years old and striking out 11 batters per nine innings. Maddux was still terrific, but he was not a strikeout pitcher and was just past his prime. Griffey, McGwire and Thomas all were hurt, which keeps them out of the top 10, but they were still were Page 1 players.
In past years, players such as Mark Fidrych, Fernando Valenzuela, Bill Lee, Joe Charbonneau and Jose Canseco -- none of them are Hall of Famers -- would be on the Most Compelling Players list, just to give you a better idea of what's in play here.
What about now? The list this year can't compare to the 2001 list. It's more similar to the 2001 Honorable Mentions in terms of star power. Judge for yourself.
Here are the best attractions in baseball -- the Most Compelling Players of 2011:
1. Tim Lincecum, Giants. It's the undersized body, the whirling delivery, the hair, the strikeouts, The Freak nickname, the slacker youthfulness and now the World Series ring.
2. Josh Hamilton, Rangers. The backstory of fighting the demons of drug addiction is poignant, but Hamilton also is a 240-pound outfielder who scores from second base on infield grounders and hits 500-foot home runs. He has a lot of Mickey Mantle in him.
3. Brian Wilson, Giants. I have no idea how he is not lefthanded. Wilson is a brilliant self-promoter, friend of Charlie Sheen, national product endorser and sought-after talk show guest bedecked with signature facial hair - a ridiculously thick and dark hedgerow of a beard. He also has a violent delivery and an upper-90s fastball.
4. Aroldis Chapman, Reds. Nothing subtle here. Even the most casual fan understands the sheer entertainment value of throwing a baseball as hard as anybody who ever lived. Chapman makes pitch speeds look like cheesy FM radio stations. (You're listening to Power 105.1 FM!)
5. Roy Halladay, Phillies. The guy delivers big moments. In his first season with a contender, Halladay won 21 games, threw a perfect game and threw a postseason no-hitter. He also has a Nolan Ryan-like dignified presence, especially having overcome early career failures.
6. Jason Heyward, Braves. At 250 pounds, Heyward has a physically imposing presence, but also a magnetic smile, a knack for the dramatic (he and Kaz Matsui are the only players to homer on Opening Day in each of their first two seasons) and the appeal of being so youthful. Not 22 years old until August, Heyward is younger than Blake Griffin, Cam Newton and Christian Colon, the Royals' first-round pick, and fourth overall, in the last draft.
7. Felix Hernandez, Mariners. The list is starting to lose big-time star power, at least as far as appeal to casual fans. Hernandez is a brilliant pitcher who is fun to watch and turns only 25 years old this week. But he pitches for a bad team in the Northwest and never has pitched in a postseason game.
8. Albert Pujols, Cardinals. Perhaps we take for granted his consistency at an elite level. He has finished first or second in MVP voting seven times in his first 10 seasons. He's just not the drawing card his numbers would suggest. The intrigue about his contract, which expires after this season, does make him more compelling this year.
9. Derek Jeter, Yankees. There is no denying his star power. His replica jersey was the top seller of 2010, even in a down season when he hit .270. He might no longer be an impact player, but he has become newly fascinating now that the decline phase of his career has become such a closely watched story.
10. Bryce Harper, Nationals. Yes, a Class A player makes the list. If Hagerstown Suns games should be televised -- like some minor league starts of Strasburg last year -- I'm watching and you should, too. Harper is an 18-year-old kid with light-tower power who could be in the big leagues by the end of this season. A confident personality, and already an ambassador for the game, Harper is comfortable in the spotlight.
Strasburg, by the way, would have been number 1 or 2 on this list if he had not blown out his elbow last year. As one of the biggest drawing cards in baseball when healthy, he is sure to be high on the list whenever he makes it back from Tommy John surgery.
The top 10 is very different from what it was in 2001. None of the players are associated with controversy. None of them have hit 50 home runs. None of them have struck out 300 batters. None of them engender much dislike even among rival fans. Only Wilson might say something truly colorful. Only Jeter plays in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago or Boston.
The list is entirely subjective, so you might have others in your own Top 10. But I will give you two more levels of most compelling players -- honorable mention and, one more cut below, those who just missed the honorable mention -- to give you a sense of available star power. You will see that baseball has plenty of great players, but just not as many truly compelling players as a decade ago.
Honorable Mention: Miguel Cabrera, Robinson Cano, Cliff Lee, Evan Longoria, Ryan Howard, Joe Mauer, David Ortiz, Buster Posey, Alex Rodriguez, Troy Tulowitzki.
Just Missed: Ryan Braun, Adam Dunn, Prince Fielder, Carlos Gonzalez, Dustin Pedroia, Mariano Rivera, Ichiro Suzuki, Justin Upton, Joey Votto, Kevin Youkilis.
Steroids no doubt added to the "wow" factor of 2001. But what also is noticeable is the dearth of polarizing personalities, especially now that Milton Bradley and Manny Ramirez haven't been on the field enough in recent years to be relevant. Rodriguez comes the closest to a notorious profile. In 2001, Martinez, Clemens, Schilling, Bonds, Rodriguez, Sosa, Sheffield and others all provoked both loyalty and anger. Baseball has become a better game, a cleaner game and, judging by the nature of today's stars, a less controversial one.
- 6,994
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Tom Verducci take on who are todays superstars of baseball
Spoiler [+]
Some of the biggest names in baseball don't play these days. Barry Bonds is on trial, Roger Clemens is warming in the courtroom bullpen, Ken Griffey Jr. just spent his first Opening Day as a retired player and Stephen Strasburg is hurt. All of them were major drawing cards, which leaves us with . . . who?
Who are the most compelling players in 2011? To answer that question, ask yourself this one: What players have a big national profile and are remote-proof? (You're skimming channels and happen upon somebody who is batting or pitching and you immediately put down the remote.)
Hollywood might call it the "it" factor. There is something about the player that forces you to pay attention, whether it means watching televised games, buying a ticket even if he doesn't play for your favorite team or reading about him. Indeed, compel derives from the Latin for "to force."
You might be surprised (or worse, might not be) to find that baseball lacks many such outsized personalities as compared to recent history. Go back 10 years, when the Steroid Era helped bring about the greatest period of power hitting the game ever has seen. The game was loaded with massive sluggers but also strikeout pitchers and polarizing personalities.
To compare how drawing cards in the game have changed in the past decade, I compiled two lists: the Most Compelling Players of 2001 and 2011.
This is not just about the best players or the most exciting players, so you won't find Hanley Ramirez or Andrew McCutchen on this year's list. (Neither has enough of a national profile.) It's about the kind of player who drives TV ratings and magazine sales, so that means appealing to casual fans, not just those who appreciate finer baseball skills. It's about the good guys, bad guys or just plain off-center guys who have a combination of game and personality that compels the country to take notice.
Here's what the list would look like from 2001:
1. Barry Bonds, Giants
2. Sammy Sosa, Cubs
3. Randy Johnson, Diamondbacks
4. Pedro Martinez, Red Sox
5. Alex Rodriguez, Rangers
6. Roger Clemens, Yankees
7. Curt Schilling, Diamondbacks
8. Derek Jeter, Yankees
9. Kerry Wood, Cubs
10. Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners
Honorable Mention: Roberto Alomar, Jason Giambi, Ken Griffey Jr., Mark McGwire, Greg Maddux, Albert Pujols, Manny Ramirez, Mariano Rivera, Gary Sheffield, Frank Thomas.
Wow. That is some supreme star power -- with the added thump of half of the 10 most compelling players residing in New York, Chicago and Boston. The list is loaded with players both beloved and hated and players not afraid to speak up.
When you see Kerry Wood in the top 10 and Greg Maddux left out, you begin to understand the meaning of the list. Wood was 24 years old and striking out 11 batters per nine innings. Maddux was still terrific, but he was not a strikeout pitcher and was just past his prime. Griffey, McGwire and Thomas all were hurt, which keeps them out of the top 10, but they were still were Page 1 players.
In past years, players such as Mark Fidrych, Fernando Valenzuela, Bill Lee, Joe Charbonneau and Jose Canseco -- none of them are Hall of Famers -- would be on the Most Compelling Players list, just to give you a better idea of what's in play here.
What about now? The list this year can't compare to the 2001 list. It's more similar to the 2001 Honorable Mentions in terms of star power. Judge for yourself.
Here are the best attractions in baseball -- the Most Compelling Players of 2011:
1. Tim Lincecum, Giants. It's the undersized body, the whirling delivery, the hair, the strikeouts, The Freak nickname, the slacker youthfulness and now the World Series ring.
2. Josh Hamilton, Rangers. The backstory of fighting the demons of drug addiction is poignant, but Hamilton also is a 240-pound outfielder who scores from second base on infield grounders and hits 500-foot home runs. He has a lot of Mickey Mantle in him.
3. Brian Wilson, Giants. I have no idea how he is not lefthanded. Wilson is a brilliant self-promoter, friend of Charlie Sheen, national product endorser and sought-after talk show guest bedecked with signature facial hair - a ridiculously thick and dark hedgerow of a beard. He also has a violent delivery and an upper-90s fastball.
4. Aroldis Chapman, Reds. Nothing subtle here. Even the most casual fan understands the sheer entertainment value of throwing a baseball as hard as anybody who ever lived. Chapman makes pitch speeds look like cheesy FM radio stations. (You're listening to Power 105.1 FM!)
5. Roy Halladay, Phillies. The guy delivers big moments. In his first season with a contender, Halladay won 21 games, threw a perfect game and threw a postseason no-hitter. He also has a Nolan Ryan-like dignified presence, especially having overcome early career failures.
6. Jason Heyward, Braves. At 250 pounds, Heyward has a physically imposing presence, but also a magnetic smile, a knack for the dramatic (he and Kaz Matsui are the only players to homer on Opening Day in each of their first two seasons) and the appeal of being so youthful. Not 22 years old until August, Heyward is younger than Blake Griffin, Cam Newton and Christian Colon, the Royals' first-round pick, and fourth overall, in the last draft.
7. Felix Hernandez, Mariners. The list is starting to lose big-time star power, at least as far as appeal to casual fans. Hernandez is a brilliant pitcher who is fun to watch and turns only 25 years old this week. But he pitches for a bad team in the Northwest and never has pitched in a postseason game.
8. Albert Pujols, Cardinals. Perhaps we take for granted his consistency at an elite level. He has finished first or second in MVP voting seven times in his first 10 seasons. He's just not the drawing card his numbers would suggest. The intrigue about his contract, which expires after this season, does make him more compelling this year.
9. Derek Jeter, Yankees. There is no denying his star power. His replica jersey was the top seller of 2010, even in a down season when he hit .270. He might no longer be an impact player, but he has become newly fascinating now that the decline phase of his career has become such a closely watched story.
10. Bryce Harper, Nationals. Yes, a Class A player makes the list. If Hagerstown Suns games should be televised -- like some minor league starts of Strasburg last year -- I'm watching and you should, too. Harper is an 18-year-old kid with light-tower power who could be in the big leagues by the end of this season. A confident personality, and already an ambassador for the game, Harper is comfortable in the spotlight.
Strasburg, by the way, would have been number 1 or 2 on this list if he had not blown out his elbow last year. As one of the biggest drawing cards in baseball when healthy, he is sure to be high on the list whenever he makes it back from Tommy John surgery.
The top 10 is very different from what it was in 2001. None of the players are associated with controversy. None of them have hit 50 home runs. None of them have struck out 300 batters. None of them engender much dislike even among rival fans. Only Wilson might say something truly colorful. Only Jeter plays in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago or Boston.
The list is entirely subjective, so you might have others in your own Top 10. But I will give you two more levels of most compelling players -- honorable mention and, one more cut below, those who just missed the honorable mention -- to give you a sense of available star power. You will see that baseball has plenty of great players, but just not as many truly compelling players as a decade ago.
Honorable Mention: Miguel Cabrera, Robinson Cano, Cliff Lee, Evan Longoria, Ryan Howard, Joe Mauer, David Ortiz, Buster Posey, Alex Rodriguez, Troy Tulowitzki.
Just Missed: Ryan Braun, Adam Dunn, Prince Fielder, Carlos Gonzalez, Dustin Pedroia, Mariano Rivera, Ichiro Suzuki, Justin Upton, Joey Votto, Kevin Youkilis.
Steroids no doubt added to the "wow" factor of 2001. But what also is noticeable is the dearth of polarizing personalities, especially now that Milton Bradley and Manny Ramirez haven't been on the field enough in recent years to be relevant. Rodriguez comes the closest to a notorious profile. In 2001, Martinez, Clemens, Schilling, Bonds, Rodriguez, Sosa, Sheffield and others all provoked both loyalty and anger. Baseball has become a better game, a cleaner game and, judging by the nature of today's stars, a less controversial one.
Who are the most compelling players in 2011? To answer that question, ask yourself this one: What players have a big national profile and are remote-proof? (You're skimming channels and happen upon somebody who is batting or pitching and you immediately put down the remote.)
Hollywood might call it the "it" factor. There is something about the player that forces you to pay attention, whether it means watching televised games, buying a ticket even if he doesn't play for your favorite team or reading about him. Indeed, compel derives from the Latin for "to force."
You might be surprised (or worse, might not be) to find that baseball lacks many such outsized personalities as compared to recent history. Go back 10 years, when the Steroid Era helped bring about the greatest period of power hitting the game ever has seen. The game was loaded with massive sluggers but also strikeout pitchers and polarizing personalities.
To compare how drawing cards in the game have changed in the past decade, I compiled two lists: the Most Compelling Players of 2001 and 2011.
This is not just about the best players or the most exciting players, so you won't find Hanley Ramirez or Andrew McCutchen on this year's list. (Neither has enough of a national profile.) It's about the kind of player who drives TV ratings and magazine sales, so that means appealing to casual fans, not just those who appreciate finer baseball skills. It's about the good guys, bad guys or just plain off-center guys who have a combination of game and personality that compels the country to take notice.
Here's what the list would look like from 2001:
1. Barry Bonds, Giants
2. Sammy Sosa, Cubs
3. Randy Johnson, Diamondbacks
4. Pedro Martinez, Red Sox
5. Alex Rodriguez, Rangers
6. Roger Clemens, Yankees
7. Curt Schilling, Diamondbacks
8. Derek Jeter, Yankees
9. Kerry Wood, Cubs
10. Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners
Honorable Mention: Roberto Alomar, Jason Giambi, Ken Griffey Jr., Mark McGwire, Greg Maddux, Albert Pujols, Manny Ramirez, Mariano Rivera, Gary Sheffield, Frank Thomas.
Wow. That is some supreme star power -- with the added thump of half of the 10 most compelling players residing in New York, Chicago and Boston. The list is loaded with players both beloved and hated and players not afraid to speak up.
When you see Kerry Wood in the top 10 and Greg Maddux left out, you begin to understand the meaning of the list. Wood was 24 years old and striking out 11 batters per nine innings. Maddux was still terrific, but he was not a strikeout pitcher and was just past his prime. Griffey, McGwire and Thomas all were hurt, which keeps them out of the top 10, but they were still were Page 1 players.
In past years, players such as Mark Fidrych, Fernando Valenzuela, Bill Lee, Joe Charbonneau and Jose Canseco -- none of them are Hall of Famers -- would be on the Most Compelling Players list, just to give you a better idea of what's in play here.
What about now? The list this year can't compare to the 2001 list. It's more similar to the 2001 Honorable Mentions in terms of star power. Judge for yourself.
Here are the best attractions in baseball -- the Most Compelling Players of 2011:
1. Tim Lincecum, Giants. It's the undersized body, the whirling delivery, the hair, the strikeouts, The Freak nickname, the slacker youthfulness and now the World Series ring.
2. Josh Hamilton, Rangers. The backstory of fighting the demons of drug addiction is poignant, but Hamilton also is a 240-pound outfielder who scores from second base on infield grounders and hits 500-foot home runs. He has a lot of Mickey Mantle in him.
3. Brian Wilson, Giants. I have no idea how he is not lefthanded. Wilson is a brilliant self-promoter, friend of Charlie Sheen, national product endorser and sought-after talk show guest bedecked with signature facial hair - a ridiculously thick and dark hedgerow of a beard. He also has a violent delivery and an upper-90s fastball.
4. Aroldis Chapman, Reds. Nothing subtle here. Even the most casual fan understands the sheer entertainment value of throwing a baseball as hard as anybody who ever lived. Chapman makes pitch speeds look like cheesy FM radio stations. (You're listening to Power 105.1 FM!)
5. Roy Halladay, Phillies. The guy delivers big moments. In his first season with a contender, Halladay won 21 games, threw a perfect game and threw a postseason no-hitter. He also has a Nolan Ryan-like dignified presence, especially having overcome early career failures.
6. Jason Heyward, Braves. At 250 pounds, Heyward has a physically imposing presence, but also a magnetic smile, a knack for the dramatic (he and Kaz Matsui are the only players to homer on Opening Day in each of their first two seasons) and the appeal of being so youthful. Not 22 years old until August, Heyward is younger than Blake Griffin, Cam Newton and Christian Colon, the Royals' first-round pick, and fourth overall, in the last draft.
7. Felix Hernandez, Mariners. The list is starting to lose big-time star power, at least as far as appeal to casual fans. Hernandez is a brilliant pitcher who is fun to watch and turns only 25 years old this week. But he pitches for a bad team in the Northwest and never has pitched in a postseason game.
8. Albert Pujols, Cardinals. Perhaps we take for granted his consistency at an elite level. He has finished first or second in MVP voting seven times in his first 10 seasons. He's just not the drawing card his numbers would suggest. The intrigue about his contract, which expires after this season, does make him more compelling this year.
9. Derek Jeter, Yankees. There is no denying his star power. His replica jersey was the top seller of 2010, even in a down season when he hit .270. He might no longer be an impact player, but he has become newly fascinating now that the decline phase of his career has become such a closely watched story.
10. Bryce Harper, Nationals. Yes, a Class A player makes the list. If Hagerstown Suns games should be televised -- like some minor league starts of Strasburg last year -- I'm watching and you should, too. Harper is an 18-year-old kid with light-tower power who could be in the big leagues by the end of this season. A confident personality, and already an ambassador for the game, Harper is comfortable in the spotlight.
Strasburg, by the way, would have been number 1 or 2 on this list if he had not blown out his elbow last year. As one of the biggest drawing cards in baseball when healthy, he is sure to be high on the list whenever he makes it back from Tommy John surgery.
The top 10 is very different from what it was in 2001. None of the players are associated with controversy. None of them have hit 50 home runs. None of them have struck out 300 batters. None of them engender much dislike even among rival fans. Only Wilson might say something truly colorful. Only Jeter plays in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago or Boston.
The list is entirely subjective, so you might have others in your own Top 10. But I will give you two more levels of most compelling players -- honorable mention and, one more cut below, those who just missed the honorable mention -- to give you a sense of available star power. You will see that baseball has plenty of great players, but just not as many truly compelling players as a decade ago.
Honorable Mention: Miguel Cabrera, Robinson Cano, Cliff Lee, Evan Longoria, Ryan Howard, Joe Mauer, David Ortiz, Buster Posey, Alex Rodriguez, Troy Tulowitzki.
Just Missed: Ryan Braun, Adam Dunn, Prince Fielder, Carlos Gonzalez, Dustin Pedroia, Mariano Rivera, Ichiro Suzuki, Justin Upton, Joey Votto, Kevin Youkilis.
Steroids no doubt added to the "wow" factor of 2001. But what also is noticeable is the dearth of polarizing personalities, especially now that Milton Bradley and Manny Ramirez haven't been on the field enough in recent years to be relevant. Rodriguez comes the closest to a notorious profile. In 2001, Martinez, Clemens, Schilling, Bonds, Rodriguez, Sosa, Sheffield and others all provoked both loyalty and anger. Baseball has become a better game, a cleaner game and, judging by the nature of today's stars, a less controversial one.
- 6,994
- 85
- Joined
- Aug 11, 2008
Originally Posted by CP1708
Our early bullpen guys (outside of Marshall, Wood and Marmol) is sketchy, but 2 more hits for Starlin so far.
I wonder if the Marlins would trade us Hanley for the kid. Starlin the Marlin just seems like it belongs don't it?
at this point i wouldnt trade Starlin for Hanley, Castro just barely turned 21 and Hanley is 27
Hanley had rumors of taking plays off and getting into spats with his manager
while Starlin got that i dont care where i play or where i bat get me in coach attitude
where just scratching the surface with this kid and its gonna be a fun the next 5 years while he develops into his peak years
Marshall, Wood, Marmol is solid as a rock those 3 are gonna win us a bunch of games this year
combined with imo a strong starting 5 from top to bottom we actually might have a chance to snatch the central this year
the trouble is what is our offense gonna do and how the rest of the bullpen is gonna shapeout
Samardzija is a failed project imo he does not have consistent command of the strikezone James Russell will be fine
berg, stevens, caridad, should help us out the bullpen this year and if we ever get guzman back we should be straight
- 6,994
- 85
- Joined
- Aug 11, 2008
Originally Posted by CP1708
Our early bullpen guys (outside of Marshall, Wood and Marmol) is sketchy, but 2 more hits for Starlin so far.
I wonder if the Marlins would trade us Hanley for the kid. Starlin the Marlin just seems like it belongs don't it?
at this point i wouldnt trade Starlin for Hanley, Castro just barely turned 21 and Hanley is 27
Hanley had rumors of taking plays off and getting into spats with his manager
while Starlin got that i dont care where i play or where i bat get me in coach attitude
where just scratching the surface with this kid and its gonna be a fun the next 5 years while he develops into his peak years
Marshall, Wood, Marmol is solid as a rock those 3 are gonna win us a bunch of games this year
combined with imo a strong starting 5 from top to bottom we actually might have a chance to snatch the central this year
the trouble is what is our offense gonna do and how the rest of the bullpen is gonna shapeout
Samardzija is a failed project imo he does not have consistent command of the strikezone James Russell will be fine
berg, stevens, caridad, should help us out the bullpen this year and if we ever get guzman back we should be straight
- 4,857
- 14
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2008
Young always owns the phils.
and Yeah King Cole still cant pitch in the cold
and Yeah King Cole still cant pitch in the cold
- 4,857
- 14
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2008
Young always owns the phils.
and Yeah King Cole still cant pitch in the cold
and Yeah King Cole still cant pitch in the cold
- 27,978
- 9,062
- Joined
- Nov 18, 2007
You guys dont REALLY call him King Cole do you? Smh if you werent kidding.
- 27,978
- 9,062
- Joined
- Nov 18, 2007
You guys dont REALLY call him King Cole do you? Smh if you werent kidding.
- 4,857
- 14
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2008
some do some don't
his ego is ---------------> that's why some call him that
his ego is ---------------> that's why some call him that
- 4,857
- 14
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2008
some do some don't
his ego is ---------------> that's why some call him that
his ego is ---------------> that's why some call him that
I prefer Hollywood Hamels
.
BTW, I really hope Cashner doesn't go the Prior route.
http://[h3]O's shopping for a fifth starter[/h3]
8:23AM ET
[h5]Baltimore Orioles [/h5]
Buck Showalter has the http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/bal/baltimore-oriolesBaltimore Orioles off to its first 4-0 start since 1997, even with a thinned-out starting rotation.
The Orioles already have starters http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=29938Brian Matusz and http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=4816Justin Duchscherer on the disabled list. To make matters worse, Jeremy Guthrie has a viral infection that will force him to miss Wednesday's start against Detroit.
As a result, Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com tweeted Tuesday night that the Orioles are "poking around for fifth-starter types."
The Orioles could take a look at Carlos Silva, who was recently released by the Cubs, but he brings excess baggage and it remains to be seen if he would be a fit with Showalter. The Twins are shopping Kevin Slowey while free agent Jeremy Bonderman is still looking for work.
If Guthrie is not ready by Sunday, Rosenthal tweets Tuesday morning that the O's options will include minor leaguers http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=4821Ryan Drese, Mike Ballard and http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=30123Chris Jakubauskas.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Mum's the word for Heath Bell[/h3]
8:09AM ET
[h5]Heath Bell | Padres [/h5]
There has been no shortage of speculation regarding the future of Heath Bell, the San Diego Padres closer who is eligible for free agency next winter. Bell has hinted that he wouldn't mind staying in the land of Fish Tacos, but whether the fiscally conscious Padres have enough to keep him is another matter.
With the season under way, the normally talkative Bell is taking a less loquacious approach. Bell tells Tom Krasovic of InsideThePadres.com he won't be talking to the press about any ongoing or upcoming contractual talks between him and the Padres.
Bell said he doesn't want to detract from what the team is trying to accomplish, but Krasovic is among those skeptical whether Bell can keep quiet. Even if Bell wants to stay, his name will undoubtedly pop up in July trade speculation, particulary if the team struggles to stay in contention.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]The Bay Watch[/h3]
7:46AM ET
[h5]Jason Bay | Mets [/h5]
Jason Bay's expectations of a quick return from the disabled list seemed to end when Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said it is "unlikely" the outfielder will return from the disabled list when eligible this weekend against Washington.
Bay, who has missed the first four games of the season with a strained muscle in his left rib cage, is eligible to come off the DL as soon as Saturday. He played catch Tuesday but has yet to swing a bat.
Manager Terry Collins has already started three different left fielders -- Willie Harris, Lucas Duda and Scott Hairston -- in the first four games. The lefty-swinging Harris is swinging the hottest bat right now and is expected to get the start over Duda Wednesday night against the Phillies' Joe Blanton.
If the injury persists, look for Hairston to get his share of starts against the tougher left-handers.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]If Cashner is hurt[/h3]
7:20AM ET
[h5]Andrew Cashner | Cubs [/h5]
The Chicago Cubs are holding their collective breath over the status of right-hander http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=30134Andrew Cashner, was escorted off the mound in the sixth inning Tuesday against Arizona.
As of now, the injury is being described as shoulder tightness, although the top prospect was scheduled to undergo an MRI. Cubs fans can be forgiven for having flashbacks to Mark Prior, but as of now there are no confirmed reports of a serious injury.
ESPNChicago.com ireported that Cashner responded well to pressure tests from team trainers before leaving Wrigley Field for Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
If Cashner misses his next start, which is scheduled for next Monday at Houston, http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=6489Sean Marshall or http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=30592James Russell could step in and fill the role. But if Cashner has to hit the disabled list and miss multiple starts, Marshall and Russell may stay in the bullpen in favor of http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=30947Casey Coleman or http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=28710Thomas Diamond.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Latos back this weekend?[/h3]
7:00AM ET
[h5]Mat Latos | Padres [/h5]
The San Diego Padres could end up having ace right-hander Mat Latos back in the rotation sooner than later.
The Padres got more encouraging news when Latos looked sharp in a 70-pitch simulated game Monday night, reports Bill Center of the Union Tribune.
Corey Brock of MLB.com writes that the simulated game went so well that it appears Latos will be activated this weekend versus the Cincinnati Reds. Latos is eligible to come off the DL on Friday.
The Padres have two off days this week and will bring back Opening Day starter Tim Stauffer to pitch Wednesday. Should the club use a No. 5 starter before Latos returns, right-hander Samuel Deduno, who is slated to be the club's long reliever, could get the ball.
BTW, I really hope Cashner doesn't go the Prior route.
Spoiler [+]
Take six days of games from early June, or mid-August, and you would never see the kind of sweeping conclusions or panic or euphoria that you see extracted from the first week of every season. It's one small slice, only a touch of frosting on a cake, and not enough for condemnation or congratulation.
But that doesn't mean the results from the first six days should be completely ignored, either.
NEED MORE INFORMATION ON: Attendance. There are lows being reported from Yankee Stadium to Cleveland to Wrigley Field, rows and rows of empty seats; it's clear that the economy is having an enormous impact on the Indians. But keep in mind that some of the worst turnstile numbers are always posted in April, when kids are in school and it's still cold and the idea of sitting with your fingers numb for three hours isn't exactly the most attractive thing.
But I would love to know if the life habits of would-be patrons have changed significantly to the point that a 25-year-old who might have gone to the ballpark on a Tuesday night 10 years ago would rather sit in his apartment and watch the game on television, while tweeting and texting. (And local TV ratings in the past couple of years have been strong.)
Five years ago, if you were struggling to find a consistent cell signal in a ballpark during a game, that was a nuisance. But now I wonder if it is slowly becoming a deal-breaker for some fans, as some friends have mentioned to me. Maybe those teams that can find and install the technology that allows fans to continue tweeting and texting at the park -- rather than having their phones' signals interrupted -- will have a greater appeal to their target audiences. It's a problem worth exploring, because those things are a new umbilical cord.
For the readers, an open-ended question: What are your theories for the declines in attendance we're seeing?
As far as the empty seats in Wrigley Field are concerned: Rick Morrissey hopes it is a sign that Cubs fans are sick of losing.
Getty ImagesBeckett should see plenty of support, even if he struggles.
NOT BUYING: Boston's slow start. Look, it may be that Josh Beckett is more of a back-end-of-the-rotation type of pitcher, now that he works in the 90-93 mph range, and John Lackey's best days appear to be behind him. But the team is loaded with offense and eventually, it will hit, and as with the Rangers, the back end of the Boston rotation is going to work with a lot of runs.
On Tuesday, the Red Sox took another hit in Cleveland, writes Peter Abraham. From Vincent Masi of ESPN Stats & Information, a more negative take on the Red Sox: "Fold up shop, Boston Red Sox fans, the season is over on April 5. At least, that's what history tells us. The Red Sox fell to 0-4 with a 3-1 loss to the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, no team in MLB history has rebounded from an 0-4 start to win the World Series. In fact, only the 1985 St. Louis Cardinals reached the World Series after starting the year with four straight defeats, and they lost to the Kansas City Royals in seven games. Elias also reports that under the current eight-team playoff format, which began in 1995, only two out of 128 playoff teams reached the postseason after an 0-4 start -- the 1999 Arizona Diamondbacks and 1995 Cincinnati Reds. Boston is off to its first 0-4 start since 1996 when it began the season with five straight losses. The four straight losses match its longest losing streak from its last World Series-winning team (2007). This season, all prognostications pointed to a World Series berth. Accuscore, which runs 10,000 simulations of seasons, projected the Red Sox to win 95 games, with only the Philadelphia Phillies projected with a higher total at 97.2 in all of baseball."
The Red Sox are holding on to their optimism, writes Nick Cafardo.
AM BUYING: Aaron Harang, who allowed one run over six innings in his first start of the season Tuesday. He feels good, he feels like he found a mechanical problem, and he is intent on going back to being aggressive in his first season with the Padres. He looks poised for a bounce-back season.
AM BUYING: The Reds, who are 4-0. Only the Rangers can match Cincinnati's run differential of plus-18 for these first games of the season, and there really is every reason to think that the Reds' lineup will continue to evolve. Unlike the Cubs or the Cardinals, Cincinnati's core is young and still reaching for its ceiling. Drew Stubbs is good and getting better, and so are Jay Bruce and Brandon Phillips, and Joey Votto is great and still just 27 years old; the production from the Reds' catchers is among the best in the majors.
And, as noted before, the Reds have an incredibly soft early-season schedule, with only six of their first 37 games against teams that had records over .500 last year, so this early burst of run production might continue for a while. (Their schedule will start to get much more challenging in mid-May, by the way.)
Mike Leake was The Man, in his first start of the year.
NEED MORE INFORMATION ON: The Mets, who are 3-1. Look, I don't think they have the pitching to contend through September, but with a respectable lineup and with R.A. Dickey and Chris Young and Mike Pelfrey, they should compete most nights. Young threw out a few hits Tuesday and pitched well.
Terry Collins' bold message is rubbing off on the Mets, writes Bob Klapisch.
AM BUYING: That the Houston Astros (0-4) are in for a really tough year. Rival scouts walked away from seeing the Astros this spring searching to identify good major leaguers. "Three guys in their every-day lineup -- [Hunter] Pence, [Michael] Bourn, and Carlos Lee, and Lee should be a DH," said one evaluator. The over/under number on wins for the Astros, that evaluator believes, should be 60. J.A. Happ had a tough night Tuesday.
NEED MORE INFORMATION ON: The Cardinals. They have scored 14 runs in five games, but should get Matt Holliday back in their lineup in the next week, if he continues to progress from his appendectomy. And quietly, Colby Rasmus -- maybe the key to the St. Louis lineup, because he's capable of transforming this offense into something dangerous -- is off to a good start, having reached base 11 times in his first 20 plate appearances.
NEED MORE INFORMATION ON: The Rays, who are winless in four games. Johnny Damon is not hitting, Manny Ramirez is not hitting, Evan Longoria is on the disabled list. They knew going into the year that their equation for success was very fragile, and we're seeing that. Fans booed Ramirez, writes Marc Topkin, and some Rays were upset about that.
NEED MORE INFORMATION ON: The Angels. Mike Scioscia is strong in his beliefs and can stubbornly cling to personnel (see Brandon Wood), but it's evident that his patience is being overrun by a need for results. This is why the team's pricey relievers will work in middle relief and Jordan Walden -- who still hasn't seen his 20th inning in the big leagues -- is going to be the closer, and Walden got the save Tuesday night. Scott Kazmir's job may be on the line in the very near future.
AM BUYING: Starlin Castro. Cubs GM Jim Hendry described him, a couple of years ago, as someone who would remind us of Edgar Renteria -- and now that Castro is into his second season, that comparison seems so apt. He's got shortstop tools, but he's physical at the plate, with the ability to drive the ball, and right now he is hitting with extraordinary confidence; Castro almost looks surprised when he doesn't dent a fence with a line drive. He's off to a great start, and by season's end he could be regarded as the National League's best shortstop.
From ESPN Stats & Information: Castro has swung 34 times this season and has not missed the ball. He's one of just three players in the majors (min. 10 PA) that hasn't swung and missed this season: Castro (34), Alberto Callaspo (23), Erick Aybar (22) and Marco Scutaro (19). Castro is now 10-21 (.476) with two doubles and two triples in the Cubs' first five games. Since 1919, only two other Cubs have hit at least two doubles and two triples in the team's first five games: Ron Santo in 1964 (2 2B, 2 3B) and Charlie Neal (3 2B, 2 3B).
[h3]Notables[/h3]
• Frank McCourt's representatives are presenting a plan by which he would preserve his ownership, as Bill Shaikin writes. I'd bet they'll be met with a great deal of skepticism. By the way: The Dodgers' payroll has gone down by more than 20 percent from 2008 ($118 million) to this year ($92 million). The Dodgers are also paying out some deferred money.
• Watched the Cubs' game Tuesday, and early, Andrew Cashner looked great, mixing his mid-90s fastball with well-placed sliders. So it was a bummer to see him leave the game with shoulder tightness; hopefully, it's nothing serious.
By the way: Cashner's velocity dropped markedly during the course of his start. His velocity by inning Tuesday:
1st inning: 94.9
2nd inning: 94.6
3rd inning: 94.2
4th inning: 92.6
5th inning: 93.3
6th inning: 92.3
• Rafael Soriano had a bad inning, and then left it to teammates to explain why. Not the best decision, for sure; the culture in the Yankees' clubhouse, for years, has been for players to be accountable and to deal with the media after a bad performance.
He came here on a bribe, writes Joel Sherman.
[h3]Dings and dents[/h3]
1. Grady Sizemore continues to make progress in his rehab.
2. Chase Utley is progressing in baby steps.
3. A couple of Reds pitchers should be back soon.
4. Adam LaRoche is playing at less than 100 percent.
5. Mat Latos says he's ready to go, as John Maffei writes.
6. The Rockies are being cautious with Ubaldo Jimenez.
7. Jeremy Guthrie was to spend another night in the hospital.
[h3]Moves, deals and decisions[/h3]
1. Miguel Cabrera could lose his driving privileges.
2. Troy Tulowitzki has Bieber Fever.
3. A street is being named for Dave Niehaus.
4. The NCAA is reconsidering a murky rule on advisors/agents.
5. Michael Young made his first start at first base.
6. Gaby Sanchez handed over his No. 14 to a teammate, as Clark Spencer writes.
7. Tyler Colvin started in place of Carlos Pena.
[h3]Tuesday's games[/h3]
1. Jhoulys Chacin was The Man for the Rockies.
2. Cole Hamels got pounded, as Matt Gelb writes.
3. The Royals got to frolic, again. From Mark Simon of ESPN Stats & Information, a rundown of the Kansas City bullpen work so far in 2011:
W-L: 4-0
ERA: 1.57
IP: 23
H: 23
K-BB: 17-6
Inherited runners: 8
Inherited runners scored: 1
4. Kirk Gibson is in no mood for moral victories.
5. The Pirates wasted opportunities.
6. Michael Pineda had a nice debut for the Mariners, but Seattle still lost, as Geoff Baker writes.
7. Oakland kicked the ball around, again.
8. The Giants have struggled in Southern California, again, as Henry Schulman writes.
9. Albert Pujols drove in a couple of runs.
10. The Indians' Josh Tomlin is impressive, and he shut down the Red Sox.
11. The Twins' offense came to life late against the Yankees, as Joe Christensen writes. The victory was a testament to the randomness of baseball, writes Jim Souhan.
12. Yovani Gallardo picked up the Brewers. Ron Roenicke got an icy salute. How Gallardo won:
A) He kept the ball on the ground: Gallardo let his defense work, recording 18 ground-ball outs, the highest of his career.
B) Pitched to contact: Gallardo recorded only seven misses on 47 swings (14.9 percent), well below his 23.5 miss percentage last year. Gallardo finished with only two strikeouts, the third-lowest of his career.
C) Battled hitters' counts: Gallardo often fell behind Braves hitters, going to nine 2-0 and five 3-1 counts. But he was able to make good pitches when he was behind, retiring 10 of 11 hitters, eight of which came on the ground.
More on Gallardo's night: Gallardo is the first Brewers pitcher to throw a shutout within the team's first five games of the season since Chris Bosio in 1989. He's also the first pitcher to throw a shutout, allowing two hits or fewer, within his team's first five games since Felix Hernandez did it for the 2007 Mariners. From Elias: Gallardo threw a 1-0 shutout for the Brewers and scored the only run of the game. He is the first Brewers pitcher in team history to throw a shutout and score the only run of the game.
13. Donnie Murphy got a big hit.
14. Derek Lowe was good, but the other guy was just a little better.
15. The White Sox blew a lead.
16. Yunel Escobar and the Jays got to frolic.
17. Alexi Ogando looks great. The Rangers' young pitchers look good, as Gil LeBreton writes. From Jacob Nitzberg of ESPN Stats & information, how Ogando won:
A) He attacked with his fastball: Ogando worked primarily up in the zone with his mid-90s fastball, throwing 28 of his 56 fastballs (50.0 percent) in the upper third of the strike zone. Mariners hitters finished 0-for-7 against fastballs up in the zone and 1-for-14 overall against his fastball.
B) He commanded his slider: Ogando threw 21 of his 30 sliders down in the strike zone. Two of his four strikeouts were on sliders down in the zone.
C) He finished hitters off: Ogando took 13 of the 22 hitters he faced to a two-strike count, retiring 11 of those 13 (1 2B, 1 BB). He commanded his fastball well with two strikes, throwing eight of 14 fastballs up in the zone, retiring five Mariners hitters on those eight pitches, including two by strikeout.
[h3]The Patience Index[/h3]
[h4]A Lobby Full of Patience[/h4]
These hitters saw the most pitchers per plate appearance Tuesday:
[table][tr][th=""]Player[/th][th=""]TP[/th][th=""]PA[/th][th=""]P/PA[/th][/tr][tr][td]Tyler Colvin, CHC[/td][td]26[/td][td]4[/td][td]6.5[/td][/tr][tr][td]Michael Saunders, SEA[/td][td]24[/td][td]4[/td][td]6.0[/td][/tr][tr][td]Alfonso Soriano, CHC[/td][td]24[/td][td]4[/td][td]6.0[/td][/tr][tr][td]Matt Joyce, TB[/td][td]23[/td][td]4[/td][td]5.5[/td][/tr][tr][td]Chase Headley, SD[/td][td]22[/td][td]4[/td][td]5.5[/td][/tr][tr][td]Jason Jaramillo, PIT[/td][td]22[/td][td]4[/td][td]5.5[/td][/tr][tr][td]Matt LaPorta, CLE[/td][td]22[/td][td]4[/td][td]5.5[/td][/tr][/table]
Rumors.
http://[h3]Jimenez may get extra rest[/h3]
9:39AM ET
[h5]Ubaldo Jimenez | Rockies [/h5]
The Colorado Rockies have every reason to be extra cautious with Ubaldo Jimenez, whose scheduled start Friday in Pittsburgh could be in jeopardy due to a cut in his right thumb cuticle.
Jimenez is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Tuesday. If the results are not positive, Jorge De La Rosa could move into his spot. Troy Renck of the Denver Post says a plausible scenario is for the Rockies to give Jimenez an extra day of rest and move him back until Saturday.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Making room for Wilson[/h3]
9:21AM ET
[h5]Brian Wilson | Giants [/h5]
The http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/sf/san-francisco-giantsSan Francisco Giants will have to make room for closer http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=6521Brian Wilson, who will be activated from the disabled list. The Giants did not have a save opportunity in the five games Wilson was out with a strained oblique.
Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle writes that the Giants could clear space by disabling Santiago Casilla, who has a sore elbow.
Another candidate for demotion could be http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=30375Dan Runzler, but MLB.com?s Chris Haft says the left-hander could stick around if the Giants feel Runzler's development would be helped by staying in the majors.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]More first base duty for Santana[/h3]
9:10AM ET
[h5]Carlos Santana | Indians [/h5]
Carlos Santana remains the Cleveland Indians' catcher, but he may also be getting some extra use out of his first baseman's glove.
The Indians want to do everything they can to keep Santana's bat in the lineup and manager Manny Acta said that could mean more games at first base, reports Jordan Bastian of MLB.com.
Santana made his big league debut at first base Sunday against the White Sox before moving back behind the plate Tuesday night against the Red Sox. With Santana in the field, Lou Marson starts behind the plate and Matt LaPorta, the regular first baseman, takes a seat on the bench.
Manager Manny Acta wouldn't say exactly how many games Santana would play first base. That could depend on how well LaPorta is swinging the bat.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Sizemore back by end of month?[/h3]
8:45AM ET
[h5]Grady Sizemore | Indians [/h5]
Grady Sizemore moved a step closer to returning to the Cleveland Indians outfield Tuesday, going 0-for-4 for Triple-A Columbus in a game against Ohio State.
Sizemore began the season on the DL as he recovers from microfracture surgery on his left knee that ended his 2010 season last May. He will take Wednesday off and suit up for Double-A Akron on Thursday night.
The goal is to gradually build Sizemore up to nine innings and then test him in consecutive games. Jordan Bastian of MLB.com says Cleveland is hopeful that Sizemore will be ready to be activated before the end of the month.
Michael Brantley has started in center field in Sizemore's absence. ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney says the eventual return of Sizemore will open up plenty of questions in Cleveland:
- Doug Mittler
[h5]Buster Olney[/h5]
Questions with Sizemore
But that doesn't mean the results from the first six days should be completely ignored, either.
NEED MORE INFORMATION ON: Attendance. There are lows being reported from Yankee Stadium to Cleveland to Wrigley Field, rows and rows of empty seats; it's clear that the economy is having an enormous impact on the Indians. But keep in mind that some of the worst turnstile numbers are always posted in April, when kids are in school and it's still cold and the idea of sitting with your fingers numb for three hours isn't exactly the most attractive thing.
But I would love to know if the life habits of would-be patrons have changed significantly to the point that a 25-year-old who might have gone to the ballpark on a Tuesday night 10 years ago would rather sit in his apartment and watch the game on television, while tweeting and texting. (And local TV ratings in the past couple of years have been strong.)
Five years ago, if you were struggling to find a consistent cell signal in a ballpark during a game, that was a nuisance. But now I wonder if it is slowly becoming a deal-breaker for some fans, as some friends have mentioned to me. Maybe those teams that can find and install the technology that allows fans to continue tweeting and texting at the park -- rather than having their phones' signals interrupted -- will have a greater appeal to their target audiences. It's a problem worth exploring, because those things are a new umbilical cord.
For the readers, an open-ended question: What are your theories for the declines in attendance we're seeing?
As far as the empty seats in Wrigley Field are concerned: Rick Morrissey hopes it is a sign that Cubs fans are sick of losing.
Getty ImagesBeckett should see plenty of support, even if he struggles.
NOT BUYING: Boston's slow start. Look, it may be that Josh Beckett is more of a back-end-of-the-rotation type of pitcher, now that he works in the 90-93 mph range, and John Lackey's best days appear to be behind him. But the team is loaded with offense and eventually, it will hit, and as with the Rangers, the back end of the Boston rotation is going to work with a lot of runs.
On Tuesday, the Red Sox took another hit in Cleveland, writes Peter Abraham. From Vincent Masi of ESPN Stats & Information, a more negative take on the Red Sox: "Fold up shop, Boston Red Sox fans, the season is over on April 5. At least, that's what history tells us. The Red Sox fell to 0-4 with a 3-1 loss to the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, no team in MLB history has rebounded from an 0-4 start to win the World Series. In fact, only the 1985 St. Louis Cardinals reached the World Series after starting the year with four straight defeats, and they lost to the Kansas City Royals in seven games. Elias also reports that under the current eight-team playoff format, which began in 1995, only two out of 128 playoff teams reached the postseason after an 0-4 start -- the 1999 Arizona Diamondbacks and 1995 Cincinnati Reds. Boston is off to its first 0-4 start since 1996 when it began the season with five straight losses. The four straight losses match its longest losing streak from its last World Series-winning team (2007). This season, all prognostications pointed to a World Series berth. Accuscore, which runs 10,000 simulations of seasons, projected the Red Sox to win 95 games, with only the Philadelphia Phillies projected with a higher total at 97.2 in all of baseball."
The Red Sox are holding on to their optimism, writes Nick Cafardo.
AM BUYING: Aaron Harang, who allowed one run over six innings in his first start of the season Tuesday. He feels good, he feels like he found a mechanical problem, and he is intent on going back to being aggressive in his first season with the Padres. He looks poised for a bounce-back season.
AM BUYING: The Reds, who are 4-0. Only the Rangers can match Cincinnati's run differential of plus-18 for these first games of the season, and there really is every reason to think that the Reds' lineup will continue to evolve. Unlike the Cubs or the Cardinals, Cincinnati's core is young and still reaching for its ceiling. Drew Stubbs is good and getting better, and so are Jay Bruce and Brandon Phillips, and Joey Votto is great and still just 27 years old; the production from the Reds' catchers is among the best in the majors.
And, as noted before, the Reds have an incredibly soft early-season schedule, with only six of their first 37 games against teams that had records over .500 last year, so this early burst of run production might continue for a while. (Their schedule will start to get much more challenging in mid-May, by the way.)
Mike Leake was The Man, in his first start of the year.
NEED MORE INFORMATION ON: The Mets, who are 3-1. Look, I don't think they have the pitching to contend through September, but with a respectable lineup and with R.A. Dickey and Chris Young and Mike Pelfrey, they should compete most nights. Young threw out a few hits Tuesday and pitched well.
Terry Collins' bold message is rubbing off on the Mets, writes Bob Klapisch.
AM BUYING: That the Houston Astros (0-4) are in for a really tough year. Rival scouts walked away from seeing the Astros this spring searching to identify good major leaguers. "Three guys in their every-day lineup -- [Hunter] Pence, [Michael] Bourn, and Carlos Lee, and Lee should be a DH," said one evaluator. The over/under number on wins for the Astros, that evaluator believes, should be 60. J.A. Happ had a tough night Tuesday.
NEED MORE INFORMATION ON: The Cardinals. They have scored 14 runs in five games, but should get Matt Holliday back in their lineup in the next week, if he continues to progress from his appendectomy. And quietly, Colby Rasmus -- maybe the key to the St. Louis lineup, because he's capable of transforming this offense into something dangerous -- is off to a good start, having reached base 11 times in his first 20 plate appearances.
NEED MORE INFORMATION ON: The Rays, who are winless in four games. Johnny Damon is not hitting, Manny Ramirez is not hitting, Evan Longoria is on the disabled list. They knew going into the year that their equation for success was very fragile, and we're seeing that. Fans booed Ramirez, writes Marc Topkin, and some Rays were upset about that.
NEED MORE INFORMATION ON: The Angels. Mike Scioscia is strong in his beliefs and can stubbornly cling to personnel (see Brandon Wood), but it's evident that his patience is being overrun by a need for results. This is why the team's pricey relievers will work in middle relief and Jordan Walden -- who still hasn't seen his 20th inning in the big leagues -- is going to be the closer, and Walden got the save Tuesday night. Scott Kazmir's job may be on the line in the very near future.
AM BUYING: Starlin Castro. Cubs GM Jim Hendry described him, a couple of years ago, as someone who would remind us of Edgar Renteria -- and now that Castro is into his second season, that comparison seems so apt. He's got shortstop tools, but he's physical at the plate, with the ability to drive the ball, and right now he is hitting with extraordinary confidence; Castro almost looks surprised when he doesn't dent a fence with a line drive. He's off to a great start, and by season's end he could be regarded as the National League's best shortstop.
From ESPN Stats & Information: Castro has swung 34 times this season and has not missed the ball. He's one of just three players in the majors (min. 10 PA) that hasn't swung and missed this season: Castro (34), Alberto Callaspo (23), Erick Aybar (22) and Marco Scutaro (19). Castro is now 10-21 (.476) with two doubles and two triples in the Cubs' first five games. Since 1919, only two other Cubs have hit at least two doubles and two triples in the team's first five games: Ron Santo in 1964 (2 2B, 2 3B) and Charlie Neal (3 2B, 2 3B).
[h3]Notables[/h3]
• Frank McCourt's representatives are presenting a plan by which he would preserve his ownership, as Bill Shaikin writes. I'd bet they'll be met with a great deal of skepticism. By the way: The Dodgers' payroll has gone down by more than 20 percent from 2008 ($118 million) to this year ($92 million). The Dodgers are also paying out some deferred money.
• Watched the Cubs' game Tuesday, and early, Andrew Cashner looked great, mixing his mid-90s fastball with well-placed sliders. So it was a bummer to see him leave the game with shoulder tightness; hopefully, it's nothing serious.
By the way: Cashner's velocity dropped markedly during the course of his start. His velocity by inning Tuesday:
1st inning: 94.9
2nd inning: 94.6
3rd inning: 94.2
4th inning: 92.6
5th inning: 93.3
6th inning: 92.3
• Rafael Soriano had a bad inning, and then left it to teammates to explain why. Not the best decision, for sure; the culture in the Yankees' clubhouse, for years, has been for players to be accountable and to deal with the media after a bad performance.
He came here on a bribe, writes Joel Sherman.
[h3]Dings and dents[/h3]
1. Grady Sizemore continues to make progress in his rehab.
2. Chase Utley is progressing in baby steps.
3. A couple of Reds pitchers should be back soon.
4. Adam LaRoche is playing at less than 100 percent.
5. Mat Latos says he's ready to go, as John Maffei writes.
6. The Rockies are being cautious with Ubaldo Jimenez.
7. Jeremy Guthrie was to spend another night in the hospital.
[h3]Moves, deals and decisions[/h3]
1. Miguel Cabrera could lose his driving privileges.
2. Troy Tulowitzki has Bieber Fever.
3. A street is being named for Dave Niehaus.
4. The NCAA is reconsidering a murky rule on advisors/agents.
5. Michael Young made his first start at first base.
6. Gaby Sanchez handed over his No. 14 to a teammate, as Clark Spencer writes.
7. Tyler Colvin started in place of Carlos Pena.
[h3]Tuesday's games[/h3]
1. Jhoulys Chacin was The Man for the Rockies.
2. Cole Hamels got pounded, as Matt Gelb writes.
3. The Royals got to frolic, again. From Mark Simon of ESPN Stats & Information, a rundown of the Kansas City bullpen work so far in 2011:
W-L: 4-0
ERA: 1.57
IP: 23
H: 23
K-BB: 17-6
Inherited runners: 8
Inherited runners scored: 1
4. Kirk Gibson is in no mood for moral victories.
5. The Pirates wasted opportunities.
6. Michael Pineda had a nice debut for the Mariners, but Seattle still lost, as Geoff Baker writes.
7. Oakland kicked the ball around, again.
8. The Giants have struggled in Southern California, again, as Henry Schulman writes.
9. Albert Pujols drove in a couple of runs.
10. The Indians' Josh Tomlin is impressive, and he shut down the Red Sox.
11. The Twins' offense came to life late against the Yankees, as Joe Christensen writes. The victory was a testament to the randomness of baseball, writes Jim Souhan.
12. Yovani Gallardo picked up the Brewers. Ron Roenicke got an icy salute. How Gallardo won:
A) He kept the ball on the ground: Gallardo let his defense work, recording 18 ground-ball outs, the highest of his career.
B) Pitched to contact: Gallardo recorded only seven misses on 47 swings (14.9 percent), well below his 23.5 miss percentage last year. Gallardo finished with only two strikeouts, the third-lowest of his career.
C) Battled hitters' counts: Gallardo often fell behind Braves hitters, going to nine 2-0 and five 3-1 counts. But he was able to make good pitches when he was behind, retiring 10 of 11 hitters, eight of which came on the ground.
More on Gallardo's night: Gallardo is the first Brewers pitcher to throw a shutout within the team's first five games of the season since Chris Bosio in 1989. He's also the first pitcher to throw a shutout, allowing two hits or fewer, within his team's first five games since Felix Hernandez did it for the 2007 Mariners. From Elias: Gallardo threw a 1-0 shutout for the Brewers and scored the only run of the game. He is the first Brewers pitcher in team history to throw a shutout and score the only run of the game.
13. Donnie Murphy got a big hit.
14. Derek Lowe was good, but the other guy was just a little better.
15. The White Sox blew a lead.
16. Yunel Escobar and the Jays got to frolic.
17. Alexi Ogando looks great. The Rangers' young pitchers look good, as Gil LeBreton writes. From Jacob Nitzberg of ESPN Stats & information, how Ogando won:
A) He attacked with his fastball: Ogando worked primarily up in the zone with his mid-90s fastball, throwing 28 of his 56 fastballs (50.0 percent) in the upper third of the strike zone. Mariners hitters finished 0-for-7 against fastballs up in the zone and 1-for-14 overall against his fastball.
B) He commanded his slider: Ogando threw 21 of his 30 sliders down in the strike zone. Two of his four strikeouts were on sliders down in the zone.
C) He finished hitters off: Ogando took 13 of the 22 hitters he faced to a two-strike count, retiring 11 of those 13 (1 2B, 1 BB). He commanded his fastball well with two strikes, throwing eight of 14 fastballs up in the zone, retiring five Mariners hitters on those eight pitches, including two by strikeout.
[h3]The Patience Index[/h3]
[h4]A Lobby Full of Patience[/h4]
These hitters saw the most pitchers per plate appearance Tuesday:
[table][tr][th=""]Player[/th][th=""]TP[/th][th=""]PA[/th][th=""]P/PA[/th][/tr][tr][td]Tyler Colvin, CHC[/td][td]26[/td][td]4[/td][td]6.5[/td][/tr][tr][td]Michael Saunders, SEA[/td][td]24[/td][td]4[/td][td]6.0[/td][/tr][tr][td]Alfonso Soriano, CHC[/td][td]24[/td][td]4[/td][td]6.0[/td][/tr][tr][td]Matt Joyce, TB[/td][td]23[/td][td]4[/td][td]5.5[/td][/tr][tr][td]Chase Headley, SD[/td][td]22[/td][td]4[/td][td]5.5[/td][/tr][tr][td]Jason Jaramillo, PIT[/td][td]22[/td][td]4[/td][td]5.5[/td][/tr][tr][td]Matt LaPorta, CLE[/td][td]22[/td][td]4[/td][td]5.5[/td][/tr][/table]
Rumors.
Spoiler [+]
http://[h3]Finding a fill-in for Dunn[/h3]
11:19AM ET
[h5]Adam Dunn | White Sox [/h5]
The Chicago White Sox will need a temporary fix at designated hitter after Adam Dunn underwent an appendectomy late Tuesday night.
Doug Padilla of ESPNChicago.com says Dunn will miss at least five days. Dunn will stay with the team in Kansas City and travel back to Chicago on the team charter Wednesday night.
Mark Teahen, who has had all of two at-bats this season, is a likely replacement at DH. When the White Sox are facing a left-hander, it could mean more at-bats for backup outfielder Lastings Milledge.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Stanton out until weekend[/h3]
11:03AM ET
[h5]Mike Stanton | Marlins [/h5]
Florida Marlins fans got a glimpse of Mike Stanton Tuesday night, but it will be at least a few more days before the right fielder is back in the starting lineup.
MLB.com?s Joe Frisaro reports that the tightness in Stanton's hamstring will get him out of the lineup until at least this weekend. Stanton did appear as a pinch-hitter Tuesday against Washington and was removed for a pinch-runner after drawing a walk.
Manager Edwin Rodriguez has tried Scott Cousins and Emilio Bonifacio in right field in Stanton's absence.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Progress for Cueto, Bailey[/h3]
10:44AM ET
[h5]Cincinnati Reds [/h5]
A 4-0 start is not the only reason for continued optimism in Cincinnati.
Reds right-handers Johnny Cueto and Homer Bailey, both of whom started the season on the disabled list due to shoulder problems, are getting close to returning, reports John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Both starters resumed throwing after a week off and "have progressed nicely." Fay says Bailey is likely to return sooner because he was further along in spring training when he was shut down.
Sam LeCure has moved into the rotation temporarily and will start Thursday against Houston.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Who's on first? Try Michael Young[/h3]
10:22AM ET
[h5]Michael Young | Rangers [/h5]
After shopping http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=4566Michael Young for months, the http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/tex/texas-rangersTexas Rangers have found enough at-bats for the face of the franchise during the season's first week.
Young, the man without a full-time position following the signing of Adrian Beltre, has started each of the first five games, with the first four at second base or DH.
Young even made his first career start at first base Tuesday night with Mitch Moreland moving to right field. Manager Ron Washington tells the Star Telegram he is unsure how many starts Young will get at first base, but has no reservations putting him there.
GM Jon Daniels has been trying to mend the fences with Young, but Nick Cafardo wrote in Boston Globe Rangers haven't closed the door on a trade, with the Phillies and Mets remaining possibilities as they consider second base options.
Daniels countered in a Monday interview with MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM that the Rangers have no current conversations about trading any of their players, Young included.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Soriano's quick exit[/h3]
10:10AM ET
[h5]Rafael Soriano | Yankees [/h5]
New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi, like most skippers, puts a premium on clubhouse harmony, so a red flag might have gone up Tuesday regarding Rafael Soriano.
The Yankees enriched Soriano with a $35 million contract, but the right-hander was unable to protect a four-run lead in Tuesday's 10-inning loss to Minnesota. No one is perfect, but when the clubhouse opened afterward, Ben Shpigel of the New York Times reports Soriano had already departed, leaving his manager and teammates to address the failure.
ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney writes in Wednesday's blog that Soriano's quick exit might not go over well in the Bronx:
- Doug Mittler
[h5]Buster Olney[/h5]
Soriano's vacant locker
11:19AM ET
[h5]Adam Dunn | White Sox [/h5]
The Chicago White Sox will need a temporary fix at designated hitter after Adam Dunn underwent an appendectomy late Tuesday night.
Doug Padilla of ESPNChicago.com says Dunn will miss at least five days. Dunn will stay with the team in Kansas City and travel back to Chicago on the team charter Wednesday night.
Mark Teahen, who has had all of two at-bats this season, is a likely replacement at DH. When the White Sox are facing a left-hander, it could mean more at-bats for backup outfielder Lastings Milledge.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Stanton out until weekend[/h3]
11:03AM ET
[h5]Mike Stanton | Marlins [/h5]
Florida Marlins fans got a glimpse of Mike Stanton Tuesday night, but it will be at least a few more days before the right fielder is back in the starting lineup.
MLB.com?s Joe Frisaro reports that the tightness in Stanton's hamstring will get him out of the lineup until at least this weekend. Stanton did appear as a pinch-hitter Tuesday against Washington and was removed for a pinch-runner after drawing a walk.
Manager Edwin Rodriguez has tried Scott Cousins and Emilio Bonifacio in right field in Stanton's absence.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Progress for Cueto, Bailey[/h3]
10:44AM ET
[h5]Cincinnati Reds [/h5]
A 4-0 start is not the only reason for continued optimism in Cincinnati.
Reds right-handers Johnny Cueto and Homer Bailey, both of whom started the season on the disabled list due to shoulder problems, are getting close to returning, reports John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Both starters resumed throwing after a week off and "have progressed nicely." Fay says Bailey is likely to return sooner because he was further along in spring training when he was shut down.
Sam LeCure has moved into the rotation temporarily and will start Thursday against Houston.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Who's on first? Try Michael Young[/h3]
10:22AM ET
[h5]Michael Young | Rangers [/h5]
After shopping http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=4566Michael Young for months, the http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/tex/texas-rangersTexas Rangers have found enough at-bats for the face of the franchise during the season's first week.
Young, the man without a full-time position following the signing of Adrian Beltre, has started each of the first five games, with the first four at second base or DH.
Young even made his first career start at first base Tuesday night with Mitch Moreland moving to right field. Manager Ron Washington tells the Star Telegram he is unsure how many starts Young will get at first base, but has no reservations putting him there.
GM Jon Daniels has been trying to mend the fences with Young, but Nick Cafardo wrote in Boston Globe Rangers haven't closed the door on a trade, with the Phillies and Mets remaining possibilities as they consider second base options.
Daniels countered in a Monday interview with MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM that the Rangers have no current conversations about trading any of their players, Young included.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Soriano's quick exit[/h3]
10:10AM ET
[h5]Rafael Soriano | Yankees [/h5]
New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi, like most skippers, puts a premium on clubhouse harmony, so a red flag might have gone up Tuesday regarding Rafael Soriano.
The Yankees enriched Soriano with a $35 million contract, but the right-hander was unable to protect a four-run lead in Tuesday's 10-inning loss to Minnesota. No one is perfect, but when the clubhouse opened afterward, Ben Shpigel of the New York Times reports Soriano had already departed, leaving his manager and teammates to address the failure.
ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney writes in Wednesday's blog that Soriano's quick exit might not go over well in the Bronx:
- Doug Mittler
Soriano's vacant locker
9:39AM ET
[h5]Ubaldo Jimenez | Rockies [/h5]
The Colorado Rockies have every reason to be extra cautious with Ubaldo Jimenez, whose scheduled start Friday in Pittsburgh could be in jeopardy due to a cut in his right thumb cuticle.
Jimenez is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Tuesday. If the results are not positive, Jorge De La Rosa could move into his spot. Troy Renck of the Denver Post says a plausible scenario is for the Rockies to give Jimenez an extra day of rest and move him back until Saturday.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Making room for Wilson[/h3]
9:21AM ET
[h5]Brian Wilson | Giants [/h5]
The http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/sf/san-francisco-giantsSan Francisco Giants will have to make room for closer http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=6521Brian Wilson, who will be activated from the disabled list. The Giants did not have a save opportunity in the five games Wilson was out with a strained oblique.
Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle writes that the Giants could clear space by disabling Santiago Casilla, who has a sore elbow.
Another candidate for demotion could be http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=30375Dan Runzler, but MLB.com?s Chris Haft says the left-hander could stick around if the Giants feel Runzler's development would be helped by staying in the majors.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]More first base duty for Santana[/h3]
9:10AM ET
[h5]Carlos Santana | Indians [/h5]
Carlos Santana remains the Cleveland Indians' catcher, but he may also be getting some extra use out of his first baseman's glove.
The Indians want to do everything they can to keep Santana's bat in the lineup and manager Manny Acta said that could mean more games at first base, reports Jordan Bastian of MLB.com.
Santana made his big league debut at first base Sunday against the White Sox before moving back behind the plate Tuesday night against the Red Sox. With Santana in the field, Lou Marson starts behind the plate and Matt LaPorta, the regular first baseman, takes a seat on the bench.
Manager Manny Acta wouldn't say exactly how many games Santana would play first base. That could depend on how well LaPorta is swinging the bat.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Sizemore back by end of month?[/h3]
8:45AM ET
[h5]Grady Sizemore | Indians [/h5]
Grady Sizemore moved a step closer to returning to the Cleveland Indians outfield Tuesday, going 0-for-4 for Triple-A Columbus in a game against Ohio State.
Sizemore began the season on the DL as he recovers from microfracture surgery on his left knee that ended his 2010 season last May. He will take Wednesday off and suit up for Double-A Akron on Thursday night.
The goal is to gradually build Sizemore up to nine innings and then test him in consecutive games. Jordan Bastian of MLB.com says Cleveland is hopeful that Sizemore will be ready to be activated before the end of the month.
Michael Brantley has started in center field in Sizemore's absence. ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney says the eventual return of Sizemore will open up plenty of questions in Cleveland:
- Doug Mittler
Questions with Sizemore
8:23AM ET
[h5]Baltimore Orioles [/h5]
Buck Showalter has the http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/bal/baltimore-oriolesBaltimore Orioles off to its first 4-0 start since 1997, even with a thinned-out starting rotation.
The Orioles already have starters http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=29938Brian Matusz and http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=4816Justin Duchscherer on the disabled list. To make matters worse, Jeremy Guthrie has a viral infection that will force him to miss Wednesday's start against Detroit.
As a result, Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com tweeted Tuesday night that the Orioles are "poking around for fifth-starter types."
The Orioles could take a look at Carlos Silva, who was recently released by the Cubs, but he brings excess baggage and it remains to be seen if he would be a fit with Showalter. The Twins are shopping Kevin Slowey while free agent Jeremy Bonderman is still looking for work.
If Guthrie is not ready by Sunday, Rosenthal tweets Tuesday morning that the O's options will include minor leaguers http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=4821Ryan Drese, Mike Ballard and http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=30123Chris Jakubauskas.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Mum's the word for Heath Bell[/h3]
8:09AM ET
[h5]Heath Bell | Padres [/h5]
There has been no shortage of speculation regarding the future of Heath Bell, the San Diego Padres closer who is eligible for free agency next winter. Bell has hinted that he wouldn't mind staying in the land of Fish Tacos, but whether the fiscally conscious Padres have enough to keep him is another matter.
With the season under way, the normally talkative Bell is taking a less loquacious approach. Bell tells Tom Krasovic of InsideThePadres.com he won't be talking to the press about any ongoing or upcoming contractual talks between him and the Padres.
Bell said he doesn't want to detract from what the team is trying to accomplish, but Krasovic is among those skeptical whether Bell can keep quiet. Even if Bell wants to stay, his name will undoubtedly pop up in July trade speculation, particulary if the team struggles to stay in contention.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]The Bay Watch[/h3]
7:46AM ET
[h5]Jason Bay | Mets [/h5]
Jason Bay's expectations of a quick return from the disabled list seemed to end when Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said it is "unlikely" the outfielder will return from the disabled list when eligible this weekend against Washington.
Bay, who has missed the first four games of the season with a strained muscle in his left rib cage, is eligible to come off the DL as soon as Saturday. He played catch Tuesday but has yet to swing a bat.
Manager Terry Collins has already started three different left fielders -- Willie Harris, Lucas Duda and Scott Hairston -- in the first four games. The lefty-swinging Harris is swinging the hottest bat right now and is expected to get the start over Duda Wednesday night against the Phillies' Joe Blanton.
If the injury persists, look for Hairston to get his share of starts against the tougher left-handers.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]If Cashner is hurt[/h3]
7:20AM ET
[h5]Andrew Cashner | Cubs [/h5]
The Chicago Cubs are holding their collective breath over the status of right-hander http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=30134Andrew Cashner, was escorted off the mound in the sixth inning Tuesday against Arizona.
As of now, the injury is being described as shoulder tightness, although the top prospect was scheduled to undergo an MRI. Cubs fans can be forgiven for having flashbacks to Mark Prior, but as of now there are no confirmed reports of a serious injury.
ESPNChicago.com ireported that Cashner responded well to pressure tests from team trainers before leaving Wrigley Field for Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
If Cashner misses his next start, which is scheduled for next Monday at Houston, http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=6489Sean Marshall or http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=30592James Russell could step in and fill the role. But if Cashner has to hit the disabled list and miss multiple starts, Marshall and Russell may stay in the bullpen in favor of http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=30947Casey Coleman or http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=28710Thomas Diamond.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Latos back this weekend?[/h3]
7:00AM ET
[h5]Mat Latos | Padres [/h5]
The San Diego Padres could end up having ace right-hander Mat Latos back in the rotation sooner than later.
The Padres got more encouraging news when Latos looked sharp in a 70-pitch simulated game Monday night, reports Bill Center of the Union Tribune.
Corey Brock of MLB.com writes that the simulated game went so well that it appears Latos will be activated this weekend versus the Cincinnati Reds. Latos is eligible to come off the DL on Friday.
The Padres have two off days this week and will bring back Opening Day starter Tim Stauffer to pitch Wednesday. Should the club use a No. 5 starter before Latos returns, right-hander Samuel Deduno, who is slated to be the club's long reliever, could get the ball.
I prefer Hollywood Hamels
.
BTW, I really hope Cashner doesn't go the Prior route.
http://[h3]O's shopping for a fifth starter[/h3]
8:23AM ET
[h5]Baltimore Orioles [/h5]
Buck Showalter has the http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/bal/baltimore-oriolesBaltimore Orioles off to its first 4-0 start since 1997, even with a thinned-out starting rotation.
The Orioles already have starters http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=29938Brian Matusz and http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=4816Justin Duchscherer on the disabled list. To make matters worse, Jeremy Guthrie has a viral infection that will force him to miss Wednesday's start against Detroit.
As a result, Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com tweeted Tuesday night that the Orioles are "poking around for fifth-starter types."
The Orioles could take a look at Carlos Silva, who was recently released by the Cubs, but he brings excess baggage and it remains to be seen if he would be a fit with Showalter. The Twins are shopping Kevin Slowey while free agent Jeremy Bonderman is still looking for work.
If Guthrie is not ready by Sunday, Rosenthal tweets Tuesday morning that the O's options will include minor leaguers http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=4821Ryan Drese, Mike Ballard and http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=30123Chris Jakubauskas.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Mum's the word for Heath Bell[/h3]
8:09AM ET
[h5]Heath Bell | Padres [/h5]
There has been no shortage of speculation regarding the future of Heath Bell, the San Diego Padres closer who is eligible for free agency next winter. Bell has hinted that he wouldn't mind staying in the land of Fish Tacos, but whether the fiscally conscious Padres have enough to keep him is another matter.
With the season under way, the normally talkative Bell is taking a less loquacious approach. Bell tells Tom Krasovic of InsideThePadres.com he won't be talking to the press about any ongoing or upcoming contractual talks between him and the Padres.
Bell said he doesn't want to detract from what the team is trying to accomplish, but Krasovic is among those skeptical whether Bell can keep quiet. Even if Bell wants to stay, his name will undoubtedly pop up in July trade speculation, particulary if the team struggles to stay in contention.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]The Bay Watch[/h3]
7:46AM ET
[h5]Jason Bay | Mets [/h5]
Jason Bay's expectations of a quick return from the disabled list seemed to end when Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said it is "unlikely" the outfielder will return from the disabled list when eligible this weekend against Washington.
Bay, who has missed the first four games of the season with a strained muscle in his left rib cage, is eligible to come off the DL as soon as Saturday. He played catch Tuesday but has yet to swing a bat.
Manager Terry Collins has already started three different left fielders -- Willie Harris, Lucas Duda and Scott Hairston -- in the first four games. The lefty-swinging Harris is swinging the hottest bat right now and is expected to get the start over Duda Wednesday night against the Phillies' Joe Blanton.
If the injury persists, look for Hairston to get his share of starts against the tougher left-handers.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]If Cashner is hurt[/h3]
7:20AM ET
[h5]Andrew Cashner | Cubs [/h5]
The Chicago Cubs are holding their collective breath over the status of right-hander http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=30134Andrew Cashner, was escorted off the mound in the sixth inning Tuesday against Arizona.
As of now, the injury is being described as shoulder tightness, although the top prospect was scheduled to undergo an MRI. Cubs fans can be forgiven for having flashbacks to Mark Prior, but as of now there are no confirmed reports of a serious injury.
ESPNChicago.com ireported that Cashner responded well to pressure tests from team trainers before leaving Wrigley Field for Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
If Cashner misses his next start, which is scheduled for next Monday at Houston, http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=6489Sean Marshall or http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=30592James Russell could step in and fill the role. But if Cashner has to hit the disabled list and miss multiple starts, Marshall and Russell may stay in the bullpen in favor of http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=30947Casey Coleman or http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=28710Thomas Diamond.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Latos back this weekend?[/h3]
7:00AM ET
[h5]Mat Latos | Padres [/h5]
The San Diego Padres could end up having ace right-hander Mat Latos back in the rotation sooner than later.
The Padres got more encouraging news when Latos looked sharp in a 70-pitch simulated game Monday night, reports Bill Center of the Union Tribune.
Corey Brock of MLB.com writes that the simulated game went so well that it appears Latos will be activated this weekend versus the Cincinnati Reds. Latos is eligible to come off the DL on Friday.
The Padres have two off days this week and will bring back Opening Day starter Tim Stauffer to pitch Wednesday. Should the club use a No. 5 starter before Latos returns, right-hander Samuel Deduno, who is slated to be the club's long reliever, could get the ball.
BTW, I really hope Cashner doesn't go the Prior route.
Spoiler [+]
Take six days of games from early June, or mid-August, and you would never see the kind of sweeping conclusions or panic or euphoria that you see extracted from the first week of every season. It's one small slice, only a touch of frosting on a cake, and not enough for condemnation or congratulation.
But that doesn't mean the results from the first six days should be completely ignored, either.
NEED MORE INFORMATION ON: Attendance. There are lows being reported from Yankee Stadium to Cleveland to Wrigley Field, rows and rows of empty seats; it's clear that the economy is having an enormous impact on the Indians. But keep in mind that some of the worst turnstile numbers are always posted in April, when kids are in school and it's still cold and the idea of sitting with your fingers numb for three hours isn't exactly the most attractive thing.
But I would love to know if the life habits of would-be patrons have changed significantly to the point that a 25-year-old who might have gone to the ballpark on a Tuesday night 10 years ago would rather sit in his apartment and watch the game on television, while tweeting and texting. (And local TV ratings in the past couple of years have been strong.)
Five years ago, if you were struggling to find a consistent cell signal in a ballpark during a game, that was a nuisance. But now I wonder if it is slowly becoming a deal-breaker for some fans, as some friends have mentioned to me. Maybe those teams that can find and install the technology that allows fans to continue tweeting and texting at the park -- rather than having their phones' signals interrupted -- will have a greater appeal to their target audiences. It's a problem worth exploring, because those things are a new umbilical cord.
For the readers, an open-ended question: What are your theories for the declines in attendance we're seeing?
As far as the empty seats in Wrigley Field are concerned: Rick Morrissey hopes it is a sign that Cubs fans are sick of losing.
Getty ImagesBeckett should see plenty of support, even if he struggles.
NOT BUYING: Boston's slow start. Look, it may be that Josh Beckett is more of a back-end-of-the-rotation type of pitcher, now that he works in the 90-93 mph range, and John Lackey's best days appear to be behind him. But the team is loaded with offense and eventually, it will hit, and as with the Rangers, the back end of the Boston rotation is going to work with a lot of runs.
On Tuesday, the Red Sox took another hit in Cleveland, writes Peter Abraham. From Vincent Masi of ESPN Stats & Information, a more negative take on the Red Sox: "Fold up shop, Boston Red Sox fans, the season is over on April 5. At least, that's what history tells us. The Red Sox fell to 0-4 with a 3-1 loss to the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, no team in MLB history has rebounded from an 0-4 start to win the World Series. In fact, only the 1985 St. Louis Cardinals reached the World Series after starting the year with four straight defeats, and they lost to the Kansas City Royals in seven games. Elias also reports that under the current eight-team playoff format, which began in 1995, only two out of 128 playoff teams reached the postseason after an 0-4 start -- the 1999 Arizona Diamondbacks and 1995 Cincinnati Reds. Boston is off to its first 0-4 start since 1996 when it began the season with five straight losses. The four straight losses match its longest losing streak from its last World Series-winning team (2007). This season, all prognostications pointed to a World Series berth. Accuscore, which runs 10,000 simulations of seasons, projected the Red Sox to win 95 games, with only the Philadelphia Phillies projected with a higher total at 97.2 in all of baseball."
The Red Sox are holding on to their optimism, writes Nick Cafardo.
AM BUYING: Aaron Harang, who allowed one run over six innings in his first start of the season Tuesday. He feels good, he feels like he found a mechanical problem, and he is intent on going back to being aggressive in his first season with the Padres. He looks poised for a bounce-back season.
AM BUYING: The Reds, who are 4-0. Only the Rangers can match Cincinnati's run differential of plus-18 for these first games of the season, and there really is every reason to think that the Reds' lineup will continue to evolve. Unlike the Cubs or the Cardinals, Cincinnati's core is young and still reaching for its ceiling. Drew Stubbs is good and getting better, and so are Jay Bruce and Brandon Phillips, and Joey Votto is great and still just 27 years old; the production from the Reds' catchers is among the best in the majors.
And, as noted before, the Reds have an incredibly soft early-season schedule, with only six of their first 37 games against teams that had records over .500 last year, so this early burst of run production might continue for a while. (Their schedule will start to get much more challenging in mid-May, by the way.)
Mike Leake was The Man, in his first start of the year.
NEED MORE INFORMATION ON: The Mets, who are 3-1. Look, I don't think they have the pitching to contend through September, but with a respectable lineup and with R.A. Dickey and Chris Young and Mike Pelfrey, they should compete most nights. Young threw out a few hits Tuesday and pitched well.
Terry Collins' bold message is rubbing off on the Mets, writes Bob Klapisch.
AM BUYING: That the Houston Astros (0-4) are in for a really tough year. Rival scouts walked away from seeing the Astros this spring searching to identify good major leaguers. "Three guys in their every-day lineup -- [Hunter] Pence, [Michael] Bourn, and Carlos Lee, and Lee should be a DH," said one evaluator. The over/under number on wins for the Astros, that evaluator believes, should be 60. J.A. Happ had a tough night Tuesday.
NEED MORE INFORMATION ON: The Cardinals. They have scored 14 runs in five games, but should get Matt Holliday back in their lineup in the next week, if he continues to progress from his appendectomy. And quietly, Colby Rasmus -- maybe the key to the St. Louis lineup, because he's capable of transforming this offense into something dangerous -- is off to a good start, having reached base 11 times in his first 20 plate appearances.
NEED MORE INFORMATION ON: The Rays, who are winless in four games. Johnny Damon is not hitting, Manny Ramirez is not hitting, Evan Longoria is on the disabled list. They knew going into the year that their equation for success was very fragile, and we're seeing that. Fans booed Ramirez, writes Marc Topkin, and some Rays were upset about that.
NEED MORE INFORMATION ON: The Angels. Mike Scioscia is strong in his beliefs and can stubbornly cling to personnel (see Brandon Wood), but it's evident that his patience is being overrun by a need for results. This is why the team's pricey relievers will work in middle relief and Jordan Walden -- who still hasn't seen his 20th inning in the big leagues -- is going to be the closer, and Walden got the save Tuesday night. Scott Kazmir's job may be on the line in the very near future.
AM BUYING: Starlin Castro. Cubs GM Jim Hendry described him, a couple of years ago, as someone who would remind us of Edgar Renteria -- and now that Castro is into his second season, that comparison seems so apt. He's got shortstop tools, but he's physical at the plate, with the ability to drive the ball, and right now he is hitting with extraordinary confidence; Castro almost looks surprised when he doesn't dent a fence with a line drive. He's off to a great start, and by season's end he could be regarded as the National League's best shortstop.
From ESPN Stats & Information: Castro has swung 34 times this season and has not missed the ball. He's one of just three players in the majors (min. 10 PA) that hasn't swung and missed this season: Castro (34), Alberto Callaspo (23), Erick Aybar (22) and Marco Scutaro (19). Castro is now 10-21 (.476) with two doubles and two triples in the Cubs' first five games. Since 1919, only two other Cubs have hit at least two doubles and two triples in the team's first five games: Ron Santo in 1964 (2 2B, 2 3B) and Charlie Neal (3 2B, 2 3B).
[h3]Notables[/h3]
• Frank McCourt's representatives are presenting a plan by which he would preserve his ownership, as Bill Shaikin writes. I'd bet they'll be met with a great deal of skepticism. By the way: The Dodgers' payroll has gone down by more than 20 percent from 2008 ($118 million) to this year ($92 million). The Dodgers are also paying out some deferred money.
• Watched the Cubs' game Tuesday, and early, Andrew Cashner looked great, mixing his mid-90s fastball with well-placed sliders. So it was a bummer to see him leave the game with shoulder tightness; hopefully, it's nothing serious.
By the way: Cashner's velocity dropped markedly during the course of his start. His velocity by inning Tuesday:
1st inning: 94.9
2nd inning: 94.6
3rd inning: 94.2
4th inning: 92.6
5th inning: 93.3
6th inning: 92.3
• Rafael Soriano had a bad inning, and then left it to teammates to explain why. Not the best decision, for sure; the culture in the Yankees' clubhouse, for years, has been for players to be accountable and to deal with the media after a bad performance.
He came here on a bribe, writes Joel Sherman.
[h3]Dings and dents[/h3]
1. Grady Sizemore continues to make progress in his rehab.
2. Chase Utley is progressing in baby steps.
3. A couple of Reds pitchers should be back soon.
4. Adam LaRoche is playing at less than 100 percent.
5. Mat Latos says he's ready to go, as John Maffei writes.
6. The Rockies are being cautious with Ubaldo Jimenez.
7. Jeremy Guthrie was to spend another night in the hospital.
[h3]Moves, deals and decisions[/h3]
1. Miguel Cabrera could lose his driving privileges.
2. Troy Tulowitzki has Bieber Fever.
3. A street is being named for Dave Niehaus.
4. The NCAA is reconsidering a murky rule on advisors/agents.
5. Michael Young made his first start at first base.
6. Gaby Sanchez handed over his No. 14 to a teammate, as Clark Spencer writes.
7. Tyler Colvin started in place of Carlos Pena.
[h3]Tuesday's games[/h3]
1. Jhoulys Chacin was The Man for the Rockies.
2. Cole Hamels got pounded, as Matt Gelb writes.
3. The Royals got to frolic, again. From Mark Simon of ESPN Stats & Information, a rundown of the Kansas City bullpen work so far in 2011:
W-L: 4-0
ERA: 1.57
IP: 23
H: 23
K-BB: 17-6
Inherited runners: 8
Inherited runners scored: 1
4. Kirk Gibson is in no mood for moral victories.
5. The Pirates wasted opportunities.
6. Michael Pineda had a nice debut for the Mariners, but Seattle still lost, as Geoff Baker writes.
7. Oakland kicked the ball around, again.
8. The Giants have struggled in Southern California, again, as Henry Schulman writes.
9. Albert Pujols drove in a couple of runs.
10. The Indians' Josh Tomlin is impressive, and he shut down the Red Sox.
11. The Twins' offense came to life late against the Yankees, as Joe Christensen writes. The victory was a testament to the randomness of baseball, writes Jim Souhan.
12. Yovani Gallardo picked up the Brewers. Ron Roenicke got an icy salute. How Gallardo won:
A) He kept the ball on the ground: Gallardo let his defense work, recording 18 ground-ball outs, the highest of his career.
B) Pitched to contact: Gallardo recorded only seven misses on 47 swings (14.9 percent), well below his 23.5 miss percentage last year. Gallardo finished with only two strikeouts, the third-lowest of his career.
C) Battled hitters' counts: Gallardo often fell behind Braves hitters, going to nine 2-0 and five 3-1 counts. But he was able to make good pitches when he was behind, retiring 10 of 11 hitters, eight of which came on the ground.
More on Gallardo's night: Gallardo is the first Brewers pitcher to throw a shutout within the team's first five games of the season since Chris Bosio in 1989. He's also the first pitcher to throw a shutout, allowing two hits or fewer, within his team's first five games since Felix Hernandez did it for the 2007 Mariners. From Elias: Gallardo threw a 1-0 shutout for the Brewers and scored the only run of the game. He is the first Brewers pitcher in team history to throw a shutout and score the only run of the game.
13. Donnie Murphy got a big hit.
14. Derek Lowe was good, but the other guy was just a little better.
15. The White Sox blew a lead.
16. Yunel Escobar and the Jays got to frolic.
17. Alexi Ogando looks great. The Rangers' young pitchers look good, as Gil LeBreton writes. From Jacob Nitzberg of ESPN Stats & information, how Ogando won:
A) He attacked with his fastball: Ogando worked primarily up in the zone with his mid-90s fastball, throwing 28 of his 56 fastballs (50.0 percent) in the upper third of the strike zone. Mariners hitters finished 0-for-7 against fastballs up in the zone and 1-for-14 overall against his fastball.
B) He commanded his slider: Ogando threw 21 of his 30 sliders down in the strike zone. Two of his four strikeouts were on sliders down in the zone.
C) He finished hitters off: Ogando took 13 of the 22 hitters he faced to a two-strike count, retiring 11 of those 13 (1 2B, 1 BB). He commanded his fastball well with two strikes, throwing eight of 14 fastballs up in the zone, retiring five Mariners hitters on those eight pitches, including two by strikeout.
[h3]The Patience Index[/h3]
[h4]A Lobby Full of Patience[/h4]
These hitters saw the most pitchers per plate appearance Tuesday:
[table][tr][th=""]Player[/th][th=""]TP[/th][th=""]PA[/th][th=""]P/PA[/th][/tr][tr][td]Tyler Colvin, CHC[/td][td]26[/td][td]4[/td][td]6.5[/td][/tr][tr][td]Michael Saunders, SEA[/td][td]24[/td][td]4[/td][td]6.0[/td][/tr][tr][td]Alfonso Soriano, CHC[/td][td]24[/td][td]4[/td][td]6.0[/td][/tr][tr][td]Matt Joyce, TB[/td][td]23[/td][td]4[/td][td]5.5[/td][/tr][tr][td]Chase Headley, SD[/td][td]22[/td][td]4[/td][td]5.5[/td][/tr][tr][td]Jason Jaramillo, PIT[/td][td]22[/td][td]4[/td][td]5.5[/td][/tr][tr][td]Matt LaPorta, CLE[/td][td]22[/td][td]4[/td][td]5.5[/td][/tr][/table]
Rumors.
http://[h3]Jimenez may get extra rest[/h3]
9:39AM ET
[h5]Ubaldo Jimenez | Rockies [/h5]
The Colorado Rockies have every reason to be extra cautious with Ubaldo Jimenez, whose scheduled start Friday in Pittsburgh could be in jeopardy due to a cut in his right thumb cuticle.
Jimenez is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Tuesday. If the results are not positive, Jorge De La Rosa could move into his spot. Troy Renck of the Denver Post says a plausible scenario is for the Rockies to give Jimenez an extra day of rest and move him back until Saturday.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Making room for Wilson[/h3]
9:21AM ET
[h5]Brian Wilson | Giants [/h5]
The http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/sf/san-francisco-giantsSan Francisco Giants will have to make room for closer http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=6521Brian Wilson, who will be activated from the disabled list. The Giants did not have a save opportunity in the five games Wilson was out with a strained oblique.
Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle writes that the Giants could clear space by disabling Santiago Casilla, who has a sore elbow.
Another candidate for demotion could be http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=30375Dan Runzler, but MLB.com?s Chris Haft says the left-hander could stick around if the Giants feel Runzler's development would be helped by staying in the majors.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]More first base duty for Santana[/h3]
9:10AM ET
[h5]Carlos Santana | Indians [/h5]
Carlos Santana remains the Cleveland Indians' catcher, but he may also be getting some extra use out of his first baseman's glove.
The Indians want to do everything they can to keep Santana's bat in the lineup and manager Manny Acta said that could mean more games at first base, reports Jordan Bastian of MLB.com.
Santana made his big league debut at first base Sunday against the White Sox before moving back behind the plate Tuesday night against the Red Sox. With Santana in the field, Lou Marson starts behind the plate and Matt LaPorta, the regular first baseman, takes a seat on the bench.
Manager Manny Acta wouldn't say exactly how many games Santana would play first base. That could depend on how well LaPorta is swinging the bat.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Sizemore back by end of month?[/h3]
8:45AM ET
[h5]Grady Sizemore | Indians [/h5]
Grady Sizemore moved a step closer to returning to the Cleveland Indians outfield Tuesday, going 0-for-4 for Triple-A Columbus in a game against Ohio State.
Sizemore began the season on the DL as he recovers from microfracture surgery on his left knee that ended his 2010 season last May. He will take Wednesday off and suit up for Double-A Akron on Thursday night.
The goal is to gradually build Sizemore up to nine innings and then test him in consecutive games. Jordan Bastian of MLB.com says Cleveland is hopeful that Sizemore will be ready to be activated before the end of the month.
Michael Brantley has started in center field in Sizemore's absence. ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney says the eventual return of Sizemore will open up plenty of questions in Cleveland:
- Doug Mittler
[h5]Buster Olney[/h5]
Questions with Sizemore
But that doesn't mean the results from the first six days should be completely ignored, either.
NEED MORE INFORMATION ON: Attendance. There are lows being reported from Yankee Stadium to Cleveland to Wrigley Field, rows and rows of empty seats; it's clear that the economy is having an enormous impact on the Indians. But keep in mind that some of the worst turnstile numbers are always posted in April, when kids are in school and it's still cold and the idea of sitting with your fingers numb for three hours isn't exactly the most attractive thing.
But I would love to know if the life habits of would-be patrons have changed significantly to the point that a 25-year-old who might have gone to the ballpark on a Tuesday night 10 years ago would rather sit in his apartment and watch the game on television, while tweeting and texting. (And local TV ratings in the past couple of years have been strong.)
Five years ago, if you were struggling to find a consistent cell signal in a ballpark during a game, that was a nuisance. But now I wonder if it is slowly becoming a deal-breaker for some fans, as some friends have mentioned to me. Maybe those teams that can find and install the technology that allows fans to continue tweeting and texting at the park -- rather than having their phones' signals interrupted -- will have a greater appeal to their target audiences. It's a problem worth exploring, because those things are a new umbilical cord.
For the readers, an open-ended question: What are your theories for the declines in attendance we're seeing?
As far as the empty seats in Wrigley Field are concerned: Rick Morrissey hopes it is a sign that Cubs fans are sick of losing.
Getty ImagesBeckett should see plenty of support, even if he struggles.
NOT BUYING: Boston's slow start. Look, it may be that Josh Beckett is more of a back-end-of-the-rotation type of pitcher, now that he works in the 90-93 mph range, and John Lackey's best days appear to be behind him. But the team is loaded with offense and eventually, it will hit, and as with the Rangers, the back end of the Boston rotation is going to work with a lot of runs.
On Tuesday, the Red Sox took another hit in Cleveland, writes Peter Abraham. From Vincent Masi of ESPN Stats & Information, a more negative take on the Red Sox: "Fold up shop, Boston Red Sox fans, the season is over on April 5. At least, that's what history tells us. The Red Sox fell to 0-4 with a 3-1 loss to the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, no team in MLB history has rebounded from an 0-4 start to win the World Series. In fact, only the 1985 St. Louis Cardinals reached the World Series after starting the year with four straight defeats, and they lost to the Kansas City Royals in seven games. Elias also reports that under the current eight-team playoff format, which began in 1995, only two out of 128 playoff teams reached the postseason after an 0-4 start -- the 1999 Arizona Diamondbacks and 1995 Cincinnati Reds. Boston is off to its first 0-4 start since 1996 when it began the season with five straight losses. The four straight losses match its longest losing streak from its last World Series-winning team (2007). This season, all prognostications pointed to a World Series berth. Accuscore, which runs 10,000 simulations of seasons, projected the Red Sox to win 95 games, with only the Philadelphia Phillies projected with a higher total at 97.2 in all of baseball."
The Red Sox are holding on to their optimism, writes Nick Cafardo.
AM BUYING: Aaron Harang, who allowed one run over six innings in his first start of the season Tuesday. He feels good, he feels like he found a mechanical problem, and he is intent on going back to being aggressive in his first season with the Padres. He looks poised for a bounce-back season.
AM BUYING: The Reds, who are 4-0. Only the Rangers can match Cincinnati's run differential of plus-18 for these first games of the season, and there really is every reason to think that the Reds' lineup will continue to evolve. Unlike the Cubs or the Cardinals, Cincinnati's core is young and still reaching for its ceiling. Drew Stubbs is good and getting better, and so are Jay Bruce and Brandon Phillips, and Joey Votto is great and still just 27 years old; the production from the Reds' catchers is among the best in the majors.
And, as noted before, the Reds have an incredibly soft early-season schedule, with only six of their first 37 games against teams that had records over .500 last year, so this early burst of run production might continue for a while. (Their schedule will start to get much more challenging in mid-May, by the way.)
Mike Leake was The Man, in his first start of the year.
NEED MORE INFORMATION ON: The Mets, who are 3-1. Look, I don't think they have the pitching to contend through September, but with a respectable lineup and with R.A. Dickey and Chris Young and Mike Pelfrey, they should compete most nights. Young threw out a few hits Tuesday and pitched well.
Terry Collins' bold message is rubbing off on the Mets, writes Bob Klapisch.
AM BUYING: That the Houston Astros (0-4) are in for a really tough year. Rival scouts walked away from seeing the Astros this spring searching to identify good major leaguers. "Three guys in their every-day lineup -- [Hunter] Pence, [Michael] Bourn, and Carlos Lee, and Lee should be a DH," said one evaluator. The over/under number on wins for the Astros, that evaluator believes, should be 60. J.A. Happ had a tough night Tuesday.
NEED MORE INFORMATION ON: The Cardinals. They have scored 14 runs in five games, but should get Matt Holliday back in their lineup in the next week, if he continues to progress from his appendectomy. And quietly, Colby Rasmus -- maybe the key to the St. Louis lineup, because he's capable of transforming this offense into something dangerous -- is off to a good start, having reached base 11 times in his first 20 plate appearances.
NEED MORE INFORMATION ON: The Rays, who are winless in four games. Johnny Damon is not hitting, Manny Ramirez is not hitting, Evan Longoria is on the disabled list. They knew going into the year that their equation for success was very fragile, and we're seeing that. Fans booed Ramirez, writes Marc Topkin, and some Rays were upset about that.
NEED MORE INFORMATION ON: The Angels. Mike Scioscia is strong in his beliefs and can stubbornly cling to personnel (see Brandon Wood), but it's evident that his patience is being overrun by a need for results. This is why the team's pricey relievers will work in middle relief and Jordan Walden -- who still hasn't seen his 20th inning in the big leagues -- is going to be the closer, and Walden got the save Tuesday night. Scott Kazmir's job may be on the line in the very near future.
AM BUYING: Starlin Castro. Cubs GM Jim Hendry described him, a couple of years ago, as someone who would remind us of Edgar Renteria -- and now that Castro is into his second season, that comparison seems so apt. He's got shortstop tools, but he's physical at the plate, with the ability to drive the ball, and right now he is hitting with extraordinary confidence; Castro almost looks surprised when he doesn't dent a fence with a line drive. He's off to a great start, and by season's end he could be regarded as the National League's best shortstop.
From ESPN Stats & Information: Castro has swung 34 times this season and has not missed the ball. He's one of just three players in the majors (min. 10 PA) that hasn't swung and missed this season: Castro (34), Alberto Callaspo (23), Erick Aybar (22) and Marco Scutaro (19). Castro is now 10-21 (.476) with two doubles and two triples in the Cubs' first five games. Since 1919, only two other Cubs have hit at least two doubles and two triples in the team's first five games: Ron Santo in 1964 (2 2B, 2 3B) and Charlie Neal (3 2B, 2 3B).
[h3]Notables[/h3]
• Frank McCourt's representatives are presenting a plan by which he would preserve his ownership, as Bill Shaikin writes. I'd bet they'll be met with a great deal of skepticism. By the way: The Dodgers' payroll has gone down by more than 20 percent from 2008 ($118 million) to this year ($92 million). The Dodgers are also paying out some deferred money.
• Watched the Cubs' game Tuesday, and early, Andrew Cashner looked great, mixing his mid-90s fastball with well-placed sliders. So it was a bummer to see him leave the game with shoulder tightness; hopefully, it's nothing serious.
By the way: Cashner's velocity dropped markedly during the course of his start. His velocity by inning Tuesday:
1st inning: 94.9
2nd inning: 94.6
3rd inning: 94.2
4th inning: 92.6
5th inning: 93.3
6th inning: 92.3
• Rafael Soriano had a bad inning, and then left it to teammates to explain why. Not the best decision, for sure; the culture in the Yankees' clubhouse, for years, has been for players to be accountable and to deal with the media after a bad performance.
He came here on a bribe, writes Joel Sherman.
[h3]Dings and dents[/h3]
1. Grady Sizemore continues to make progress in his rehab.
2. Chase Utley is progressing in baby steps.
3. A couple of Reds pitchers should be back soon.
4. Adam LaRoche is playing at less than 100 percent.
5. Mat Latos says he's ready to go, as John Maffei writes.
6. The Rockies are being cautious with Ubaldo Jimenez.
7. Jeremy Guthrie was to spend another night in the hospital.
[h3]Moves, deals and decisions[/h3]
1. Miguel Cabrera could lose his driving privileges.
2. Troy Tulowitzki has Bieber Fever.
3. A street is being named for Dave Niehaus.
4. The NCAA is reconsidering a murky rule on advisors/agents.
5. Michael Young made his first start at first base.
6. Gaby Sanchez handed over his No. 14 to a teammate, as Clark Spencer writes.
7. Tyler Colvin started in place of Carlos Pena.
[h3]Tuesday's games[/h3]
1. Jhoulys Chacin was The Man for the Rockies.
2. Cole Hamels got pounded, as Matt Gelb writes.
3. The Royals got to frolic, again. From Mark Simon of ESPN Stats & Information, a rundown of the Kansas City bullpen work so far in 2011:
W-L: 4-0
ERA: 1.57
IP: 23
H: 23
K-BB: 17-6
Inherited runners: 8
Inherited runners scored: 1
4. Kirk Gibson is in no mood for moral victories.
5. The Pirates wasted opportunities.
6. Michael Pineda had a nice debut for the Mariners, but Seattle still lost, as Geoff Baker writes.
7. Oakland kicked the ball around, again.
8. The Giants have struggled in Southern California, again, as Henry Schulman writes.
9. Albert Pujols drove in a couple of runs.
10. The Indians' Josh Tomlin is impressive, and he shut down the Red Sox.
11. The Twins' offense came to life late against the Yankees, as Joe Christensen writes. The victory was a testament to the randomness of baseball, writes Jim Souhan.
12. Yovani Gallardo picked up the Brewers. Ron Roenicke got an icy salute. How Gallardo won:
A) He kept the ball on the ground: Gallardo let his defense work, recording 18 ground-ball outs, the highest of his career.
B) Pitched to contact: Gallardo recorded only seven misses on 47 swings (14.9 percent), well below his 23.5 miss percentage last year. Gallardo finished with only two strikeouts, the third-lowest of his career.
C) Battled hitters' counts: Gallardo often fell behind Braves hitters, going to nine 2-0 and five 3-1 counts. But he was able to make good pitches when he was behind, retiring 10 of 11 hitters, eight of which came on the ground.
More on Gallardo's night: Gallardo is the first Brewers pitcher to throw a shutout within the team's first five games of the season since Chris Bosio in 1989. He's also the first pitcher to throw a shutout, allowing two hits or fewer, within his team's first five games since Felix Hernandez did it for the 2007 Mariners. From Elias: Gallardo threw a 1-0 shutout for the Brewers and scored the only run of the game. He is the first Brewers pitcher in team history to throw a shutout and score the only run of the game.
13. Donnie Murphy got a big hit.
14. Derek Lowe was good, but the other guy was just a little better.
15. The White Sox blew a lead.
16. Yunel Escobar and the Jays got to frolic.
17. Alexi Ogando looks great. The Rangers' young pitchers look good, as Gil LeBreton writes. From Jacob Nitzberg of ESPN Stats & information, how Ogando won:
A) He attacked with his fastball: Ogando worked primarily up in the zone with his mid-90s fastball, throwing 28 of his 56 fastballs (50.0 percent) in the upper third of the strike zone. Mariners hitters finished 0-for-7 against fastballs up in the zone and 1-for-14 overall against his fastball.
B) He commanded his slider: Ogando threw 21 of his 30 sliders down in the strike zone. Two of his four strikeouts were on sliders down in the zone.
C) He finished hitters off: Ogando took 13 of the 22 hitters he faced to a two-strike count, retiring 11 of those 13 (1 2B, 1 BB). He commanded his fastball well with two strikes, throwing eight of 14 fastballs up in the zone, retiring five Mariners hitters on those eight pitches, including two by strikeout.
[h3]The Patience Index[/h3]
[h4]A Lobby Full of Patience[/h4]
These hitters saw the most pitchers per plate appearance Tuesday:
[table][tr][th=""]Player[/th][th=""]TP[/th][th=""]PA[/th][th=""]P/PA[/th][/tr][tr][td]Tyler Colvin, CHC[/td][td]26[/td][td]4[/td][td]6.5[/td][/tr][tr][td]Michael Saunders, SEA[/td][td]24[/td][td]4[/td][td]6.0[/td][/tr][tr][td]Alfonso Soriano, CHC[/td][td]24[/td][td]4[/td][td]6.0[/td][/tr][tr][td]Matt Joyce, TB[/td][td]23[/td][td]4[/td][td]5.5[/td][/tr][tr][td]Chase Headley, SD[/td][td]22[/td][td]4[/td][td]5.5[/td][/tr][tr][td]Jason Jaramillo, PIT[/td][td]22[/td][td]4[/td][td]5.5[/td][/tr][tr][td]Matt LaPorta, CLE[/td][td]22[/td][td]4[/td][td]5.5[/td][/tr][/table]
Rumors.
Spoiler [+]
http://[h3]Finding a fill-in for Dunn[/h3]
11:19AM ET
[h5]Adam Dunn | White Sox [/h5]
The Chicago White Sox will need a temporary fix at designated hitter after Adam Dunn underwent an appendectomy late Tuesday night.
Doug Padilla of ESPNChicago.com says Dunn will miss at least five days. Dunn will stay with the team in Kansas City and travel back to Chicago on the team charter Wednesday night.
Mark Teahen, who has had all of two at-bats this season, is a likely replacement at DH. When the White Sox are facing a left-hander, it could mean more at-bats for backup outfielder Lastings Milledge.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Stanton out until weekend[/h3]
11:03AM ET
[h5]Mike Stanton | Marlins [/h5]
Florida Marlins fans got a glimpse of Mike Stanton Tuesday night, but it will be at least a few more days before the right fielder is back in the starting lineup.
MLB.com?s Joe Frisaro reports that the tightness in Stanton's hamstring will get him out of the lineup until at least this weekend. Stanton did appear as a pinch-hitter Tuesday against Washington and was removed for a pinch-runner after drawing a walk.
Manager Edwin Rodriguez has tried Scott Cousins and Emilio Bonifacio in right field in Stanton's absence.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Progress for Cueto, Bailey[/h3]
10:44AM ET
[h5]Cincinnati Reds [/h5]
A 4-0 start is not the only reason for continued optimism in Cincinnati.
Reds right-handers Johnny Cueto and Homer Bailey, both of whom started the season on the disabled list due to shoulder problems, are getting close to returning, reports John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Both starters resumed throwing after a week off and "have progressed nicely." Fay says Bailey is likely to return sooner because he was further along in spring training when he was shut down.
Sam LeCure has moved into the rotation temporarily and will start Thursday against Houston.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Who's on first? Try Michael Young[/h3]
10:22AM ET
[h5]Michael Young | Rangers [/h5]
After shopping http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=4566Michael Young for months, the http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/tex/texas-rangersTexas Rangers have found enough at-bats for the face of the franchise during the season's first week.
Young, the man without a full-time position following the signing of Adrian Beltre, has started each of the first five games, with the first four at second base or DH.
Young even made his first career start at first base Tuesday night with Mitch Moreland moving to right field. Manager Ron Washington tells the Star Telegram he is unsure how many starts Young will get at first base, but has no reservations putting him there.
GM Jon Daniels has been trying to mend the fences with Young, but Nick Cafardo wrote in Boston Globe Rangers haven't closed the door on a trade, with the Phillies and Mets remaining possibilities as they consider second base options.
Daniels countered in a Monday interview with MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM that the Rangers have no current conversations about trading any of their players, Young included.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Soriano's quick exit[/h3]
10:10AM ET
[h5]Rafael Soriano | Yankees [/h5]
New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi, like most skippers, puts a premium on clubhouse harmony, so a red flag might have gone up Tuesday regarding Rafael Soriano.
The Yankees enriched Soriano with a $35 million contract, but the right-hander was unable to protect a four-run lead in Tuesday's 10-inning loss to Minnesota. No one is perfect, but when the clubhouse opened afterward, Ben Shpigel of the New York Times reports Soriano had already departed, leaving his manager and teammates to address the failure.
ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney writes in Wednesday's blog that Soriano's quick exit might not go over well in the Bronx:
- Doug Mittler
[h5]Buster Olney[/h5]
Soriano's vacant locker
11:19AM ET
[h5]Adam Dunn | White Sox [/h5]
The Chicago White Sox will need a temporary fix at designated hitter after Adam Dunn underwent an appendectomy late Tuesday night.
Doug Padilla of ESPNChicago.com says Dunn will miss at least five days. Dunn will stay with the team in Kansas City and travel back to Chicago on the team charter Wednesday night.
Mark Teahen, who has had all of two at-bats this season, is a likely replacement at DH. When the White Sox are facing a left-hander, it could mean more at-bats for backup outfielder Lastings Milledge.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Stanton out until weekend[/h3]
11:03AM ET
[h5]Mike Stanton | Marlins [/h5]
Florida Marlins fans got a glimpse of Mike Stanton Tuesday night, but it will be at least a few more days before the right fielder is back in the starting lineup.
MLB.com?s Joe Frisaro reports that the tightness in Stanton's hamstring will get him out of the lineup until at least this weekend. Stanton did appear as a pinch-hitter Tuesday against Washington and was removed for a pinch-runner after drawing a walk.
Manager Edwin Rodriguez has tried Scott Cousins and Emilio Bonifacio in right field in Stanton's absence.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Progress for Cueto, Bailey[/h3]
10:44AM ET
[h5]Cincinnati Reds [/h5]
A 4-0 start is not the only reason for continued optimism in Cincinnati.
Reds right-handers Johnny Cueto and Homer Bailey, both of whom started the season on the disabled list due to shoulder problems, are getting close to returning, reports John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Both starters resumed throwing after a week off and "have progressed nicely." Fay says Bailey is likely to return sooner because he was further along in spring training when he was shut down.
Sam LeCure has moved into the rotation temporarily and will start Thursday against Houston.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Who's on first? Try Michael Young[/h3]
10:22AM ET
[h5]Michael Young | Rangers [/h5]
After shopping http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=4566Michael Young for months, the http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/tex/texas-rangersTexas Rangers have found enough at-bats for the face of the franchise during the season's first week.
Young, the man without a full-time position following the signing of Adrian Beltre, has started each of the first five games, with the first four at second base or DH.
Young even made his first career start at first base Tuesday night with Mitch Moreland moving to right field. Manager Ron Washington tells the Star Telegram he is unsure how many starts Young will get at first base, but has no reservations putting him there.
GM Jon Daniels has been trying to mend the fences with Young, but Nick Cafardo wrote in Boston Globe Rangers haven't closed the door on a trade, with the Phillies and Mets remaining possibilities as they consider second base options.
Daniels countered in a Monday interview with MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM that the Rangers have no current conversations about trading any of their players, Young included.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Soriano's quick exit[/h3]
10:10AM ET
[h5]Rafael Soriano | Yankees [/h5]
New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi, like most skippers, puts a premium on clubhouse harmony, so a red flag might have gone up Tuesday regarding Rafael Soriano.
The Yankees enriched Soriano with a $35 million contract, but the right-hander was unable to protect a four-run lead in Tuesday's 10-inning loss to Minnesota. No one is perfect, but when the clubhouse opened afterward, Ben Shpigel of the New York Times reports Soriano had already departed, leaving his manager and teammates to address the failure.
ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney writes in Wednesday's blog that Soriano's quick exit might not go over well in the Bronx:
- Doug Mittler
Soriano's vacant locker
9:39AM ET
[h5]Ubaldo Jimenez | Rockies [/h5]
The Colorado Rockies have every reason to be extra cautious with Ubaldo Jimenez, whose scheduled start Friday in Pittsburgh could be in jeopardy due to a cut in his right thumb cuticle.
Jimenez is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Tuesday. If the results are not positive, Jorge De La Rosa could move into his spot. Troy Renck of the Denver Post says a plausible scenario is for the Rockies to give Jimenez an extra day of rest and move him back until Saturday.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Making room for Wilson[/h3]
9:21AM ET
[h5]Brian Wilson | Giants [/h5]
The http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/sf/san-francisco-giantsSan Francisco Giants will have to make room for closer http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=6521Brian Wilson, who will be activated from the disabled list. The Giants did not have a save opportunity in the five games Wilson was out with a strained oblique.
Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle writes that the Giants could clear space by disabling Santiago Casilla, who has a sore elbow.
Another candidate for demotion could be http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=30375Dan Runzler, but MLB.com?s Chris Haft says the left-hander could stick around if the Giants feel Runzler's development would be helped by staying in the majors.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]More first base duty for Santana[/h3]
9:10AM ET
[h5]Carlos Santana | Indians [/h5]
Carlos Santana remains the Cleveland Indians' catcher, but he may also be getting some extra use out of his first baseman's glove.
The Indians want to do everything they can to keep Santana's bat in the lineup and manager Manny Acta said that could mean more games at first base, reports Jordan Bastian of MLB.com.
Santana made his big league debut at first base Sunday against the White Sox before moving back behind the plate Tuesday night against the Red Sox. With Santana in the field, Lou Marson starts behind the plate and Matt LaPorta, the regular first baseman, takes a seat on the bench.
Manager Manny Acta wouldn't say exactly how many games Santana would play first base. That could depend on how well LaPorta is swinging the bat.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Sizemore back by end of month?[/h3]
8:45AM ET
[h5]Grady Sizemore | Indians [/h5]
Grady Sizemore moved a step closer to returning to the Cleveland Indians outfield Tuesday, going 0-for-4 for Triple-A Columbus in a game against Ohio State.
Sizemore began the season on the DL as he recovers from microfracture surgery on his left knee that ended his 2010 season last May. He will take Wednesday off and suit up for Double-A Akron on Thursday night.
The goal is to gradually build Sizemore up to nine innings and then test him in consecutive games. Jordan Bastian of MLB.com says Cleveland is hopeful that Sizemore will be ready to be activated before the end of the month.
Michael Brantley has started in center field in Sizemore's absence. ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney says the eventual return of Sizemore will open up plenty of questions in Cleveland:
- Doug Mittler
Questions with Sizemore
8:23AM ET
[h5]Baltimore Orioles [/h5]
Buck Showalter has the http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/bal/baltimore-oriolesBaltimore Orioles off to its first 4-0 start since 1997, even with a thinned-out starting rotation.
The Orioles already have starters http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=29938Brian Matusz and http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=4816Justin Duchscherer on the disabled list. To make matters worse, Jeremy Guthrie has a viral infection that will force him to miss Wednesday's start against Detroit.
As a result, Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com tweeted Tuesday night that the Orioles are "poking around for fifth-starter types."
The Orioles could take a look at Carlos Silva, who was recently released by the Cubs, but he brings excess baggage and it remains to be seen if he would be a fit with Showalter. The Twins are shopping Kevin Slowey while free agent Jeremy Bonderman is still looking for work.
If Guthrie is not ready by Sunday, Rosenthal tweets Tuesday morning that the O's options will include minor leaguers http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=4821Ryan Drese, Mike Ballard and http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=30123Chris Jakubauskas.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Mum's the word for Heath Bell[/h3]
8:09AM ET
[h5]Heath Bell | Padres [/h5]
There has been no shortage of speculation regarding the future of Heath Bell, the San Diego Padres closer who is eligible for free agency next winter. Bell has hinted that he wouldn't mind staying in the land of Fish Tacos, but whether the fiscally conscious Padres have enough to keep him is another matter.
With the season under way, the normally talkative Bell is taking a less loquacious approach. Bell tells Tom Krasovic of InsideThePadres.com he won't be talking to the press about any ongoing or upcoming contractual talks between him and the Padres.
Bell said he doesn't want to detract from what the team is trying to accomplish, but Krasovic is among those skeptical whether Bell can keep quiet. Even if Bell wants to stay, his name will undoubtedly pop up in July trade speculation, particulary if the team struggles to stay in contention.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]The Bay Watch[/h3]
7:46AM ET
[h5]Jason Bay | Mets [/h5]
Jason Bay's expectations of a quick return from the disabled list seemed to end when Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said it is "unlikely" the outfielder will return from the disabled list when eligible this weekend against Washington.
Bay, who has missed the first four games of the season with a strained muscle in his left rib cage, is eligible to come off the DL as soon as Saturday. He played catch Tuesday but has yet to swing a bat.
Manager Terry Collins has already started three different left fielders -- Willie Harris, Lucas Duda and Scott Hairston -- in the first four games. The lefty-swinging Harris is swinging the hottest bat right now and is expected to get the start over Duda Wednesday night against the Phillies' Joe Blanton.
If the injury persists, look for Hairston to get his share of starts against the tougher left-handers.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]If Cashner is hurt[/h3]
7:20AM ET
[h5]Andrew Cashner | Cubs [/h5]
The Chicago Cubs are holding their collective breath over the status of right-hander http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=30134Andrew Cashner, was escorted off the mound in the sixth inning Tuesday against Arizona.
As of now, the injury is being described as shoulder tightness, although the top prospect was scheduled to undergo an MRI. Cubs fans can be forgiven for having flashbacks to Mark Prior, but as of now there are no confirmed reports of a serious injury.
ESPNChicago.com ireported that Cashner responded well to pressure tests from team trainers before leaving Wrigley Field for Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
If Cashner misses his next start, which is scheduled for next Monday at Houston, http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=6489Sean Marshall or http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=30592James Russell could step in and fill the role. But if Cashner has to hit the disabled list and miss multiple starts, Marshall and Russell may stay in the bullpen in favor of http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=30947Casey Coleman or http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=28710Thomas Diamond.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Latos back this weekend?[/h3]
7:00AM ET
[h5]Mat Latos | Padres [/h5]
The San Diego Padres could end up having ace right-hander Mat Latos back in the rotation sooner than later.
The Padres got more encouraging news when Latos looked sharp in a 70-pitch simulated game Monday night, reports Bill Center of the Union Tribune.
Corey Brock of MLB.com writes that the simulated game went so well that it appears Latos will be activated this weekend versus the Cincinnati Reds. Latos is eligible to come off the DL on Friday.
The Padres have two off days this week and will bring back Opening Day starter Tim Stauffer to pitch Wednesday. Should the club use a No. 5 starter before Latos returns, right-hander Samuel Deduno, who is slated to be the club's long reliever, could get the ball.
- 11,986
- 19
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2005
Mets have a better record than the Yankees, jus sayin'
- 11,986
- 19
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2005
Mets have a better record than the Yankees, jus sayin'
- Status